The National Association of Games and Lotteries said it will take Minas Gerais’ betting-advertising decree to Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court, opening a new front in the dispute over who gets to regulate gambling publicity in the country. The group plans to file a Direct Action of Unconstitutionality, arguing that the state has gone beyond its powers and that fixed-odds betting should be governed by uniform federal rules.
The decree was signed on 20 August by Governor Mateus Simões. It bars advertising and promotional activity by betting companies on state-owned public property and in public spaces, including highways, terminals, airports, state buildings and major sports venues such as Mineirão.
The ban also reaches signage, electronic displays, naming rights, large screens, promotional experiences and sound systems. It extends to advertising, promotions and sponsorships linked to betting companies at events promoted or supported by the state, while team uniforms were left outside the rule because they are not public assets.
The state has said companies will get a transition period, but continued non-compliance could lead to the loss of contracts. Enforcement is expected to start with monitoring, police support on the streets and the removal or covering of advertising that breaks the rule, rather than immediate financial penalties. The decree also includes the ending of Loteria Mineira’s contracts with industry operators.
ANJL says the measure creates restrictions that exceed state competence and interferes with a matter already regulated at federal level. It argues that because authorised companies operate across several states, the sector needs national rules to preserve uniformity, predictability and legal certainty.
The case comes against a wider constitutional fight over betting advertising. Last week, the Prosecutor General’s Office backed an action against Rio Grande do Sul’s Law No. 16.508/2026, saying the state had invaded powers reserved to the Union and that a single federal standard was needed for the sector.
ANJL said the Minas case follows the same principle. The debate is also shaped by the state government’s own case for the ban, which centres on the local economy and citizens’ mental health.
Officials said Minas Gerais accounts for about 10% of all bets placed in Brazil. g1 reported that bettors in the state moved about R$22 billion last year, and roughly R$4 billion remained with operators. Simões warned that public authorities should not help normalise an activity that can lead to debt, dependency and impoverishment.
