A federal appeals judge’s striking characterisation of Brazil’s betting ban has thrown fresh scrutiny onto the country’s ongoing regulatory crackdown on licensed operators.
Judge Adriana Pileggi, sitting at the Regional Federal Court of the 3rd Region, described the ban as “a genuine confiscation” when granting CDA Gaming interim appellate relief on 3 November.
The ruling directly restored the operating licence of gambling brand Casa de Apostas, returning it to Brazilian players after a period of enforced downtime caused by the broader industry ban.
Confirmation that the platform is live came from independent verification, with the site’s age gate, casino lobby, and SPA/MF 255/2025 authorisation banner all visible and functional.
Customer support for Casa de Apostas confirmed that registered players holding a CPF can access and play online casino games as normal through the relaunched platform.
One complication persists for the brand: visitors attempting to reach its main website address are currently being redirected through to Casa de Apostas rather than landing directly on the homepage.
The legal road ahead is far from straightforward, as the case must now return to the 26th Federal Civil Court of São Paulo, the same court that originally refused to grant the injunction.
Timing added an additional layer of significance to the TRF3 decision, as it landed on the very same day that Brazil’s Supreme Court held a public hearing on the wider betting ban.
Industry associations chose to take their fight directly to the Supreme Court rather than pursuing the same appellate route that CDA Gaming used to secure relief for Casa de Apostas.
Adding further complexity to the regulatory picture, the Finance Ministry used the Supreme Court hearing to both defend the ban and praise Brazil’s regulated betting market as “a significant advancement.”
The contradictory posture from the Finance Ministry, supporting the ban while celebrating the framework it disrupts, reflects the tension at the heart of Brazil’s contested gambling policy.
With proceedings now split across multiple judicial levels and the Supreme Court yet to issue a definitive ruling, the legal status of Brazil’s licensed operators remains deeply uncertain heading further into 2026.
