According to the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), the new rules that automatically block Bolsa Família and BPC (Continuous Benefit Payment) beneficiaries from placing fixed-odds bets at sportsbooks may be illegal.
In a Technical Note sent to the Prizes and Betting Secretariat (SPA), the entity criticized the SIGAP (Betting Management System) application programming interface (API) for Impedidos. The mechanism was published on Wednesday (October 1, 2025) in the Federal Official Gazette.
According to ANJL, the measure exceeds the limits set by the STF (Supreme Federal Court). The Supreme Court had already ruled that the ban on beneficiaries would be limited to using funds from social programs for gambling, without restrictions on resources from other sources.
The document confirms that, by indiscriminately blocking all beneficiaries, the API “innovates in the legal system without legal or judicial support”.
ANJL states that the measure violates democratic legality
For the ANJL, the measure “violates democratic legality and creates a dangerous precedent for civil liberties.”
According to the organization’s president, Plínio Lemos Jorge, the ban could have the opposite effect to that intended. “Instead of protecting Bolsa Família and BPC beneficiaries, it would end up pushing gamblers into the illegal market, without responsible gambling mechanisms, without time or spending limits, and beyond the reach of state oversight. This increases the risks of debt and irresponsible gambling,” he stated.
The Technical Note concludes that the API imposes stricter restrictions than the Supreme Court’s ruling, potentially constituting unconstitutionality and illegality. Furthermore, it highlights the need for standardized data reporting.
According to Lemos Jorge, the topic has not yet been detailed in the current regulations. ANJL also emphasizes that it has been promoting “training, seminars, workshops, and recommendations to guide the market in this process.”
