The decision of the TRF 1 judge, however, does not change the need for state authorization for the exploration of the market by sports betting and online gaming houses, as determined by the State Decree of Rio de Janeiro.
The thesis that the exploration of lottery services can be carried out clandestinely, by companies often headquartered in tax havens, until the completion of federal regulation, is unconstitutional, in Loterj's understanding.
The sovereignty of the states must be preserved, with specific regulations for the exploration of the lottery market, as is the case in Rio de Janeiro, and they must be complied with.
The adaptation mentioned in the sole paragraph of article 9 of Law 14.790/2023 is not a license for the illegitimate exploration of the market by bets. It is known that this activity is known as tax evasion and tax evasion, and the companies that explore it are mostly headquartered in tax havens, as Loterj has already stated on several occasions.
The “adaptation” of the aforementioned article is for these companies to regularize themselves. It is not a license for them to continue operating illegally, outside of any inspection.
Therefore, anyone who currently operates this activity without the proper authorization is in complete disregard of the legal framework established by Loterj.
“The pioneering role of the Rio government in regulating the betting market is essential for the protection of bettors, legal certainty, the regularization of companies and the generation of jobs,” Hazenclever Lopes Cançado, president of Loterj, told GMB when commenting on the decision to appeal the court ruling.
Source: GMB
