Stake Wins Injunction to Keep Taking Bets in Brazil Until October 25

Stake Brazil has resumed online betting after a federal judge in São Paulo granted it a temporary injunction against the country's betting ban on Thursday, October 8, according to reports. The protection is partial and runs only until October 25.

Until then, authorities cannot end Stake's license or block its stake.bet.br site, according to reports. Stake had asked the court to suspend the ban until its license expires in December 2029. Judge Cristiane Farias Rodrigues dos Santos turned that request down.

The order covers Stake alone, and the wider ban stays in place. For other license holders, it shows a court willing to weigh an operator's investment against a sudden ban, but not to promise anything beyond a few weeks.

Why the judge would not go to 2029

The judge said she could not guarantee Stake's operations through 2029 before the authorities had been heard. She also said a license does not guarantee that the rules will stay the same for its full term.

She did accept part of Stake's argument, saying its investment creates legal interests that the authorities have to weigh. October 25 is also the date of Brazil's presidential runoff, according to reports. The ban was introduced through a provisional measure signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Open, but barred from chasing new players

The injunction comes with conditions, according to reports. Stake must keep its anti-money laundering, age verification, responsible gambling and self-exclusion controls in place. It cannot launch new promotions or acquisition bonuses, or run anything aimed at growing its customer base.

In practice, Stake can keep serving the customers it already has, but it cannot market its way to new ones while the order stands.

Stake's case to the court

Stake's filings say it has invested approximately R$128.2 million ($25.5 million) in Brazil, paid a R$30 million ($5.98 million) license fee and employs 41 people in the country. In its court submission, Stake argued that closing the regulated market would not end demand for gambling and would push customers toward illegal operators.

The company called the ruling an "important signal" and said properly licensed operators deserve protection for their investment and legal rights.

By recognising that an authorisation obtained by fulfilling all legal requirements, paying the grant fee, and making significant investments confers a legal position that cannot be suppressed without due consideration, the Court reaffirmed the importance of legal certainty and the stability of rules.

"To our knowledge, we are the first licensed operator to get a decision of this kind," a Stake spokesperson said. Brazil's Ministry of Justice had ordered the blocking of domains belonging to all license holders from October 6.

Ten days for the government

Government bodies have 10 days to respond, after which the court may reconsider its decision, according to reports. The case is also due to be referred to federal prosecutors.

The court has given no guarantee that Stake can keep operating after October 25. What happens to its license and its site after that date depends on the government's response and any further ruling.