iGaming

Federal court in Brazil grants partial injunction to betting platform Stake

The ruling allows Stake to resume operations until Oct. 25 and orders authorities to unblock its website.

By Erin Kowalski, Editor-in-Chief
October 10, 2026

A federal court in São Paulo has permitted the betting platform Stake to resume operations in Brazil until Oct. 25, 2026. The partial preliminary injunction was signed by Federal Judge Cristiane Farias Rodrigues dos Santos of the 9th Federal Civil Court. It orders authorities to unblock the company's website and prohibits them from treating its authorization as terminated before that date. Stake had sought to operate until its licence expires on Dec. 31, 2029, but the court limited the relief.

Stake Brasil said the decision had "provisionally preserved the effects of its authorization for the exploration of fixed-odds betting." The company stated it highlighted the importance of legal certainty for operators that have paid fees and invested under the regulatory framework. "Stake Brasil understands that consumer protection is one of the main benefits of a regulated market," it said, adding that clear rules and responsible gambling mechanisms were essential. The company said it had complied with obligations since the provisional measure was published.

The injunction imposes 12 conditions on Stake's continued operations. The platform is prohibited from accepting bets from legally restricted individuals or from funds tied to social programs. It cannot advertise to minors or launch new promotional campaigns to expand its user base. Stake must ensure customers can withdraw funds, maintain adequate reserves to cover balances and keep all transaction records. It must also submit required reports to regulators and operate only through authorized domains.

The lawsuit was filed by the law firm Bichara e Motta, which called it the first favourable decision for a fixed-odds betting operator in the dispute over Provisional Measure 1,394/2026. The firm said the request to operate until the licence's original expiration remains subject to a full review. In her decision, the judge noted the provisional measure itself set a specific date for licence termination. She wrote that the administration could not fully anticipate those termination effects to an earlier date.

The ruling follows a provisional measure introduced by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in late September, which banned online casinos and sports betting. Before this court decision, two major Brazilian gambling trade bodies asked the Supreme Federal Court to overturn the ban. The National Association of Games and Lotteries and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming argue the measure may be unconstitutional. They have requested its effects be suspended while the high court considers the legal challenges.