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Brazilian Supreme Court Justice João Otávio de Noronha has defended the legalization of land-based casinos in Brazil, arguing the current ban allows Brazilian money to flow to gambling destinations overseas.
Noronha made the comments in an interview with TV Migalhas during the 14th Lisbon Forum, held in Portugal from June 1 to 3. He said Brazilians travel to places such as Monaco, other European cities, and Las Vegas to gamble in casinos, generating jobs and revenue outside Brazil.
He described the situation as “a system that turns a blind eye to reality and penalizes the State itself”. The justice said the issue should be discussed as a matter of regulation, while making clear that his position did not extend to online betting.
Noronha said online betting should not be treated the same way as traditional casino gambling, arguing that the type of gambling he was referring to is “one that can be controlled.”
His latest remarks followed a May 13, 2025, decision by the Fourth Panel of the Superior Court of Justice, or STJ, which unanimously authorized the collection in Brazil of a US$1 million debt incurred at the Wynn casino in Las Vegas. During that trial, Noronha criticized what he saw as an inconsistency in Brazil’s gambling laws.
“We have to confront this issue. We can no longer maintain this hypocrisy that gambling is prohibited, but online gaming isn’t. They are authorized, but casinos are not. This is an inconsistency in our legal system,” the minister stated during that trial.
The case involved Valdemir Garreta, a former campaign strategist for the PT, or Workers’ Party, who sought to prevent enforcement of a debt of about R$ 5.6 million. The debt was incurred in 2015 during a trip to Las Vegas, where he exhausted his financial resources while gambling and signed a promissory note committing to pay the amount, which he later failed to do.
Noronha also questioned the different treatment of casinos, lotteries, and betting under Brazilian law. “What is the difference between a casino and betting sites? None. What’s the difference between a casino and a lottery? None. They’re all games of chance. So why is one allowed and the other not?“
He said Brazil should confront what he called the contradiction between banning casino gambling while allowing lotteries and other forms of betting. “I just think it’s time to confront this problem,” he argued.
The 14th Lisbon Forum’s theme was “New International Order, Technology and Sovereignty: Democratic, Economic and Social Challenges,” with discussions covering artificial intelligence, digital platform regulation, child protection in the online environment, public safety, and technology’s impact on democracy.