Brazil state/municipal lotteries association disputes bet.br domain

Last week, the National Association of Municipal and State Lotteries (ANALOME) publicly denounced the exclusive use of the bet.br domain as the primary criterion for identifying illegal operators in Brazil’s evolving online gambling landscape.

Since the launch of Brazil’s legal online gambling market on January 1, federally licensed operators have been required to utilize the Brazilian internet domain “bet.br” exclusively.

On March 22, ANALOME released a statement asserting that the stipulations regarding the bet.br domain have adversely influenced public perception. Many companies operating under state or municipal licenses opt for alternative domains, which has inadvertently tainted their reputations among consumers.

The organization contends that the mandatory use of the bet.br domain creates an unjust restriction that infringes upon the principles of legality, free enterprise, and the autonomy of federative entities.

This regulation jeopardizes the financial contributions of state and municipal lotteries to critical sectors such as health and education, according to ANALOME’s statement.

The association’s concerns come in light of the government’s recent ordinance, which details new procedures for financial institutions reporting illegal gambling transactions.

On March 21, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) published Normative Ordinance No. 566, providing clarity on the conditions, deadlines, and reporting flows for financial institutions dealing with illegal operators.

ANALOME believes this ordinance is an effort by the SPA to maintain a monopoly on lottery operations, undermining the autonomy of state and municipal regulators.

“Given the current situation, ANALOME urges the Prizes and Betting Secretariat to revoke Ordinance SPA/MF No. 566/25, addressing this serious breach of legal principles to prevent irreversible harm to the gaming and entertainment industry,” stated the release, which was shared with BNL Data.

Ongoing Dispute Between Government and State/Municipal Lotteries

In a signed statement by ANALOME President Camilo Roma de Brito, the association also called for the establishment of a collaborative working group involving both ANALOME members and SPA representatives.

This proposed working group would assess the repercussions of Normative Ordinance No. 566, aiming to forge a solution that ensures legal clarity while safeguarding the autonomy of state and municipal entities.

“We firmly believe that technical dialogue is essential for developing a balanced regulatory framework,” remarked ANALOME. “This initiative does not preclude the consideration of suitable legal measures, but it underscores our commitment to collaborative solutions.”

The press release marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute between federal authorities and state/municipal lotteries.

In February, efforts by the Rio de Janeiro State Lottery (Loterj) to extend the operational territory of state-licensed companies nationwide faced setbacks when the Supreme Federal Court (STF) upheld a preliminary injunction.

This injunction barred Loterj licensees from accepting bets outside Rio de Janeiro’s borders and mandated geolocation tracking to ensure compliance.

Earlier this month, Brazil’s social democratic party, Solidariedade, filed a Claim of Non-Compliance with a Fundamental Precept (ADPF), seeking to suspend municipal lotteries pending a definitive STF ruling on their constitutional validity.