In compliance with the court decision handed down by the Federal Regional Court of the First Region, the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) sent Official Letter No. 182/2024/SFI-ANATEL to authorized Personal Mobile Service (SMP) and Multimedia Communication Service companies ( SCM) that provide services in the State of Rio de Janeiro.
In the document, the entity informs that in compliance with the “judicial determination command,” Loterj carried out the verification of the operational legitimacy of 115 sports betting and online gaming sites and that none of them has such “operational legitimacy as it does not have authorization from the State of Rio de Janeiro and/or the Federal Union.”
For this reason, the Official Letter determines: “We request immediate compliance with the Judicial Decision by blocking access to URLs, as per the electronic sites listed” [in the action].
In total, there are 115 websites to be taken offline by court order and Anatel's understanding that the requirements emanating from the decision of the Federal Regional Court of the First Region were met.
The interlocutory appeal No. 1015703-46.2024.4.01.0000 filed by Loterj sought to order Anatel to order internet providers to block or suspend 115 websites not authorized by the municipality to operate in Rio de Janeiro.
In the order, judge Pablo Zuniga Dourado granted Loterj's request and authorized Anatel to promote the verification of the operational legitimacy of the companies appointed by the Rio de Janeiro municipality “and if not, take the appropriate measures, within the limits of the State of Rio de Janeiro, to determine the suspension of fixed-odd betting lottery activities that are in disagreement with the legislation applied to the species.”
Anatel checked with Loterj the companies that were not licensed to operate in the State, as per the order contained in the court decision and had confirmation from the municipality that none of the 115 sites are licensed and authorized to operate in Rio de Janeiro.
In view of this, Anatel informed internet providers to block all urls listed in the Loterj action. The decision is immediate.
Source: GMB
