Brazil Considers Ban on Fixed-Odds Betting Advertising
On Wednesday, March 12th, the Sports Commission (CEsp) convened to discuss a bill that would prohibit advertising for fixed-odds betting across Brazil.
Authored by Senator Styvenson Valentim, the proposed legislation seeks to amend Article 33 of Law No. 13,756/2018, the law that initially regulated fixed-odds sports betting in Brazil. The amendment would effectively ban all gambling advertisements across all media platforms.
Senator Valentim argues that the ban is necessary because betting companies are allegedly ignoring existing restrictions on marketing, particularly those aimed at young people.
“This proposal is justified in view of the sudden change in the profile of bettors, which is now mostly made up of young people, who have at their disposal, 24 hours a day, with just one click, the possibility of placing bets without any barrier to impulsive behaviour,” Valentim stated.
Following the CEsp meeting, the bill will be forwarded to the Communication and Digital Law Commission (CCDD) for further consideration and a decision on whether to proceed with the legislation.
Brazil has already implemented some measures to curb gambling advertising.
In December, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets, the regulatory body, enacted several advertising restrictions ahead of schedule. These measures, originally slated for January 1, 2025, include a ban on advertising targeting children and adolescents, as well as advertising on channels where minors constitute the majority of the audience.
Furthermore, all gambling advertisements are now required to display an ’18+’ symbol or the message “prohibited for people under 18”.
Senator Portinho Backs the Bill
Senator Carlos Portinho has voiced his support for Senator Valentim’s proposal. He has introduced several amendments to the bill, including a ban on betting advertisements on the radio between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, and a complete prohibition of marketing in print and electronic media within Brazil.
Senator Portinho’s amendments also seek to prohibit the use of athletes and other public figures in gambling advertisements, as well as the use of text messages and mobile notifications to promote gambling.
“The rampant advertising in this sector leads the audience to believe that, with a stroke of luck, they will achieve financial independence, when reality has shown the even more pronounced impoverishment of the most economically vulnerable segments of the population,” Portinho explained.
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