Pixbet and three other operators faced the suspension of their licenses by Brazil’s betting regulator, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA). This decision came as a result of Normative Ordinance No. 787, which identified Tqj-Par Participacoes Societarias SA, 7MBR Ltda, Caixa Lotteries SA, and PixBet Technological Solutions as failing to comply with Article 3 of Normative Ordinance No. 2,104. This article pertains to the requirement for operators to present technical certificates and betting systems to the regulator. Pixbet Brazil
The suspensions are set to last up to 90 days from the ordinance’s publication, during which the aforementioned operators will be prohibited from engaging in fixed-odds betting until they fulfill the necessary certification requirements and have their licenses reinstated. The suspended companies and their respective brands include TQJ-PAR PARTICIPACOES SOCIETARIAS SA, which operates Bingo Bank and Tele Sena Bet, among others; 7MBR LTDA, known for CBET; and Caixa Lotteries SA, which runs brands like BetCaixa, Megabet, and XBet Caixa, along with PixBet Technological Solutions LTDA, which operates PixBet, Flabet, and Bet da Sorte.
In an announcement shared with Poder360, Pixbet expressed surprise at the license suspension, indicating that they had believed they had submitted the necessary certificates. The company suggested that there might have been an error in the analysis or technical processing of their application. This news was also likely a shock to Flamengo, a top-flight football club that recently launched its shirt sponsor FlaBet, in partnership with its master sponsor, PixBet. Only licensed betting companies in Brazil are permitted to sponsor sports teams.
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Later that same Friday night, a federal court judge, Anderson Santos da Silva, overturned the effects of the ordinance, reinstating Pixbet’s license after a writ of mandamus was filed by the company. Pixbet asserted that it had submitted three of the four required certification documents in February, while the final integration certificate was submitted on April 10. The company described the ordinance as “illegal and disproportionate,” asserting that it resulted in “reputational and economic damages” concerning its BRL 470 million master sponsorship of Flamengo.
Judge da Silva ruled that Pixbet could “resume their economic activity,” thereby suspending the effects of Normative Ordinance No. 787 “until a further court decision.” Meanwhile, the other three operators named in the ordinance will continue to be suspended from the legal market until they present the remaining certification documents. Pixbet Brazil
