Brazil Judge Rejects Suspension of Betnacional Sportsbook
A Brazilian court has rejected an attempt to halt the operations of BetNacional and parent company NSX, which had been accused of allowing underage individuals to access their gambling platforms. The Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories issued the ruling, reversing a prior decision by the Public Prosecutor's Office that had called for the temporary suspension of NSX brands pending proof of compliance with youth protection measures.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The legal action was brought by two advocacy groups: Francisco de Assis Education and Citizenship of Afro-descendants and the Needy and the Father Ezequiel Ramin Centre for the Defence of Human Rights. The complaint alleged that NSX, through BetNacional and sister platforms Mr Jack Bet and Pagbet, had not enforced proper restrictions to prevent minors from gambling. The plaintiffs demanded financial compensation totaling R$470 million (US$88.3 million).
Related: Flutter Entertainment Expands in Brazil with NSX Group AcquisitionThe judge ruled that NSX had secured a legitimate license under Brazil's updated sports betting framework, implemented in January 2025. That authorization, granted by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), was seen by the court as confirmation that the operator had followed the necessary steps to ensure compliance, particularly concerning age restrictions. The judge concluded that the licensing itself reflects adequate safeguards, making a suspension unwarranted.
Possession of a valid five-year license from the SPA was cited by the court as sufficient evidence that NSX met the compliance expectations the Ministry of Finance expects from licensees. The judge stressed that there was no solid foundation to justify the interim order sought by the plaintiffs and underscored the importance of concrete evidence when attempting to impose operational blocks on companies operating under state oversight.
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A Win for Flutter Entertainment
The decision follows Flutter Entertainment's move to acquire a controlling stake in NSX. The global gaming company, known for owning FanDuel, recently completed a $356 million purchase of 56% of NSX. This favorable court ruling comes as Flutter begins consolidating its presence in Brazil through Flutter Brazil, a new entity that combines its Betfair Brazil brand and BetNacional under a single operational banner.
The outcome of the case reinforces the growing influence of Brazil's regulated betting environment, which has started to eliminate the presence of offshore and cryptocurrency-based gambling services that operated without clear legal boundaries. Companies are now expected to strictly comply with new licensing standards, especially regarding user protection and responsible gaming practices, to continue operating in the Brazilian market.
João Studart, Chief Executive Officer of NSX and now head of Flutter Brazil, responded to the ruling on social media. He highlighted the company's transformation from a local startup into a key player in Brazil's digital gambling sector. Studart credited NSX's success to long-term planning, a skilled team, and the company's consistent efforts to build trusted, regulated brands like BetNacional, which now form part of Flutter's international portfolio.
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