On April 11, 2025, Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) took a decisive action by suspending the licenses of Pixbet and three other betting operators. Nonetheless, a federal court ruling led to the swift reinstatement of Pixbet’s operating authorization, revealing the complexities and dynamics surrounding the regulatory environment for online betting in Brazil.
The suspension was enacted under Normative Ordinance No 787, which targeted Tqj-Par Participacoes Societarias SA, 7MBR Ltda, Caixa Lotteries SA, and PixBet Technological Solutions. The SPA stated that these companies had failed to meet the requirements outlined in Article 3 of an earlier ordinance concerning the submission of necessary technical certifications and betting systems.
The suspension could last up to 90 days, effectively barring the involved operators from engaging in fixed-odds wagering until they fulfill the certification obligations needed to regain their licenses. Among those affected were brands like Bingo Bank and Betcaixa, which reflect the broader impact of such regulatory actions on the industry in Brazil.
In an unexpected twist, Pixbet’s license was reinstated later that same evening, thanks to a ruling by federal court judge Anderson Santos da Silva. This decision came after Pixbet filed a “writ of mandamus,” asserting that it had sufficiently provided three out of the four requisite certification documents earlier in February, with the final document being submitted just the day before the suspension was announced.
Pixbet expressed shock regarding the suspension, emphasizing that it believed it had complied with all necessary regulations and suggesting that there might have been an error in the SPA’s analysis. The abrupt action not only affected the company but also had implications for its partnership with popular football club Flamengo, which had recently launched the FlaBet brand in collaboration with Pixbet. Sponsorships in Brazil are only permitted for licensed betting entities, adding another layer of urgency to the restoration of Pixbet’s license.
With the court’s ruling, Pixbet was allowed to resume its operations, underscoring the ever-shifting landscape of online betting regulations in Brazil. Meanwhile, the fate of the other three companies remains uncertain as they continue to navigate the compliance requirements necessary for their licenses to be reinstated.
This situation highlights the tightrope that betting operators must walk in Brazil’s evolving legal environment. As the regulatory framework matures, companies will need to ensure that they maintain adherence to the requirements while advocating for their rights when disputes arise, as demonstrated in Pixbet’s case.