Until the Original Civil Action (ACO) filed by the federal government is voted on its merits, companies that obtained accreditation from Loterj are prohibited from offering sports betting and online games outside the state's limits.
The ministers Gilmar Mendes, Alexandre de Morais, Flávio Dino, Cármen Lúcia, Cristiano Zanin, Nunes Marques and Luís Roberto Barroso followed the vote of the rapporteur André Mendonça.
In his vote in the Virtual Plenary, Justice Luiz Fux agreed with André Mendonça's decision, but with one caveat: "the effects must be modulated to preserve the possibility of executing contracts in force and signed before the granting of the precautionary measure."
Throughout the day, Justice Dias Toffoli changed his vote and agreed with Fux's understanding that contracts in force must be maintained until the ACO is discussed and voted on in the Plenary, with a date yet to be set by the President of the Court, Luís Roberto Barroso.
In January, the rapporteur Justice André Mendonça suspended the operation of sports betting and online games nationwide by betting companies accredited by Loterj, obliging the agency to adopt geolocation criteria to prevent operations outside the limits of Rio de Janeiro.
After back and forth, the rapporteur put an end to the matter by not accepting Loterj's appeals and determined that if the measure was not adopted, fines would be applied to Loterj and its president, Hazenclever Lopes Cançado.
In view of this, Loterj determined by means of an ordinance the immediate suspension of operations outside the state limits until the Federal Supreme Court rules on the merits of the action.
Since there are contracts in force and the accredited companies received Loterj's order to suspend the offer of bets outside the limits of Rio de Janeiro, there is strong evidence of losses to the licensed operators and possible lawsuits for damages or other claims against the autarchy may be filed.
Source: GMB
