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A Brazilian Labor Court has dismissed a legal challenge by the Union of Commissioners and Consignees of the State of São Paulo (SINCOESP) against the creation of the Union of Sports Betting and Online Gaming Operators (SINDIBETS). The ruling validates the new union, representing a significant development for Brazil’s betting industry.
The lawsuit, filed in September 2025, argued that SINDIBETS violated the principle of union unity by overlapping with SINCOESP. However, the court rejected this claim, determining that fixed-odds betting is a distinct economic activity that justifies specialized union representation.
A central issue in the case was whether SINDIBETS constituted a unique sector or simply duplicated existing unions. SINCOESP claimed the new union unlawfully infringed on the principle of unicity, which prohibits multiple unions within the same category in a given territory. SINDIBETS countered that fixed-odds betting—defined as ‘bets placed on predicting the results of a determined event, either real or virtual’—required a dedicated union, referencing regulatory frameworks like Law No. 13,756/2018 and Law No. 14,790/2023.
The court applied the principle of specificity, ruling that unions must correspond to prevailing economic activities. This decision not only upholds SINDIBETS but also establishes a precedent for sector-specific unions in Brazil’s gaming industry.
SINDIBETS was formed in September 2025 during an assembly attended by 16 betting companies, following discussions among members of the Women in Gaming Industry Association (AMIG). The union’s statutes were registered shortly after its formation, and it submitted a request for official recognition in November 2025. The court noted that SINCOESP had previously attempted—and failed—to expand its scope to include gaming-related businesses due to a ‘lack of similarity or connection between the activities.’
The court dismissed SINCOESP‘s lawsuit as unfounded and ordered the plaintiff to pay R$200 in legal costs and R$50 in fees for legal representation. The judge also refused to classify the lawsuit as malicious, citing insufficient evidence.
This ruling reflects the Brazilian government’s recognition of fixed-odds betting as a regulated economic sector with distinct labor relations. As the industry continues to expand under regulatory oversight, SINDIBETS is poised to play a key role in shaping employment terms and industry standards.
