TLDR:
- Esportes Gaming Brazil acquired ST Soft, gaining Loterj license to operate
- Esportes da Sorte and OnaBet not on SPA’s federal approval list
- Loterj authorized Esportes da Sorte and OnaBet to operate for 5 years
- Uncertainty over nationwide operation with Loterj license due to court ruling
- Esportes da Sorte still awaiting SPA decision on federal license appeal
Esportes Gaming Brazil, the owner of popular betting brands Esportes da Sorte and OnaBet, has found a way to continue operating in Brazil despite being left off the federal regulator’s list of approved operators.
The company has secured authorization from Loterj, the state lottery of Rio de Janeiro, by becoming the controlling shareholder of ST Soft Desenvolvimento de Programa de Computadores Ltda, which owns the Apostou.com platform.
This move comes after Esportes da Sorte was notably absent from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) list of approved operators released last week.
The federal list included 89 operators considered legal during the transition period before the January 1, 2025 market launch date. Esportes Gaming Brazil had contacted the SPA seeking rectification, believing it had met the requirements to continue operations.
Loterj has stated that Esportes Gaming Brazil has complied with its legal and technical requirements, thus meeting the conditions for authorization to operate under a state license.
The domains of Esportes da Sorte and OnaBet will replace ST Soft’s rj.apostou.com on the list of Loterj licensees in Rio de Janeiro. This brings the total number of Loterj-approved brands to 12, including other major names like Caesars Sportsbook, VaideBet, and Pixbet.
The authorization granted by Loterj is valid for five years. However, Esportes Gaming Brazil is still awaiting a decision on its appeal to the SPA regarding the review of its documentation by the Ministry of Finance.
The company claims to have complied with “all the legal and regulatory procedures established by law and its respective decrees.”
Despite securing the Loterj license, there is uncertainty surrounding whether Esportes da Sorte and OnaBet will be able to operate nationwide. A recent ruling by the Federal Regional Court stated that Loterj does not have jurisdiction outside of Rio de Janeiro. Court president João Batista Moreira has banned Loterj-licensed operators from operating outside state borders.
This ruling followed an appeal from the attorney-general’s office aimed at reinstating the federal government’s ability to regulate gambling across Brazil.
Loterj, however, argues that its activities are protected by a law that predates the SPA’s regulations. Article 35-A of gambling regulations Law No 14,790 stipulates that licensees must follow law over ordinances or injunctions.
The state regulator has reaffirmed its belief that its licensees will “continue to operate throughout Brazil” following the SPA’s publication of the list of federally-approved operators.
Esportes da Sorte is one of three companies, along with VaideBet and Zeroumbet, involved in the federal illegal gambling and money laundering investigation known as ‘Operation Integration.’
The owners of all three companies were arrested in September. Interestingly, VaideBet and Zeroumbet were also left off the SPA’s list of companies considered legal during the transition period.
In an official statement, the Esportes da Sorte Group reaffirmed its commitment to sector regulation, responsible gambling, and the defense of a legal and trustworthy market to meet the interests of bettors. The company stated,
“The Esportes da Sorte Group has received confirmed and validated operational authorization from Loterj, securing the regulatory body’s approval for an initial five-year period.
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