Pixbet Faces Nationwide Suspension in Brazil Over Age Verification Issues

On 14 July, the Juvenile Court for Children and Youth in the District of Campina Grande ruled that Pixbet Soluções Tecnológicas Ltda must suspend its online betting platforms across Brazil. The decision remains effective until Pixbet can prove that robust measures are in place to stop minors from accessing their services.

The ruling arose from a public civil action initiated by the Padre Ezequiel Ramin Human Rights Defence Center, the Francisco de Assis Association for Education, Citizenship, Inclusion, and Human Rights, and Father Júlio Renato Lancellotti. They argued that Pixbet's platforms lacked adequate mechanisms to prevent registration and use by minors.

Legal Foundations of the Suspension

Judge João Lucas emphasized that both the Brazilian Constitution and the Statute of the Child and Adolescent (ECA) guarantee comprehensive protection and absolute priority for children and adolescents. This position is supported by the "Digital ECA" framework, which mandates the prevention of minors accessing gaming and betting services.

The ruling noted that minors continue to access betting platforms by using the tax IDs (CPFs) of parents or guardians, often without effective biometric verification during registration or subsequent transactions. These observations were underscored by daily experiences and online reports.

Enforcement and Penalties

The judge referenced Ordinance No. 73/2026, issued by Brazil’s Ministers of Finance, Justice, and the National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon), which requires betting companies to implement effective age verification measures and prohibits marketing to minors. As part of the ruling, Pixbet must suspend platform operations within 48 hours of notification and can only resume once technological mechanisms such as facial recognition with a "liveness check" are demonstrated to the court.

Pixbet is required to conduct biometric verification that cross-references official databases and automatically blocks registrations using the tax IDs of minors. Non-compliance will lead to a daily fine of BRL100,000 ($19,561), with a cap at BRL100 million.

Broader Impacts and Regulatory Cooperation

The ruling mandates notifying Anatel, Brazil’s national telecommunications agency, to block access to Pixbet’s platforms if the company fails to comply. Additionally, the Secretariat for Prizes and Bets and the National Data Protection Authority have been notified to initiate appropriate actions.

For industry stakeholders, this decision highlights the increasing scrutiny on online betting platforms and the importance of adhering to age verification mandates. As legal frameworks continue to evolve, operators must remain vigilant about regulatory changes to maintain compliance.

This case underscores the critical role of robust regulatory measures in the Brazilian market, ensuring that platforms do not facilitate underage gambling and protect vulnerable populations.