Brazil Betting Industry Uses Brasileirão Matches to Protest Ban on Legal Betting

In both Brasileirão games, licensed betting companies advertised on boards to publicly challenge the prohibition of regulated betting in Brazil. Companies affiliated with the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) provided space for messages at games in São Paulo vs. Santos on October 2 and Atlético–MG vs. Red Bull Bragantino on October 3. The games were part of the 21st round of the Serie A postponed.

Read more NFL

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026 on September 25, which was mentioned in the campaign. The main thrust of a manifesto issued by ANJL and IBJR soon after the announcement of the ban was echoed in the advertising boards, which featured the messages “Banning is not protecting”, “Banning does not end betting” and “It ends the protection of those who bet”.

Associations Raise Concerns Over Regulation and Sports Financing

If the regulated market is abolished, it will impact not just betters, but clubs, sponsors and others involved in the sports economy, according to ANJL and IBJR. The groups state that the current sponsorship agreements and long-term investment plans have been put together in the context of the regulations set by the Brazilian government.

“For ANJL and IBJR, maintaining a regulated environment, with clear rules and legal certainty, is essential so that clubs, companies and other agents in the sports ecosystem can plan their long-term investments,” ANJL president Plínio Lemos Jorge said.

Also sharing this concern, IBJR president Carlos Lima said the problem is the uncertainty of a market based on authorizations issued by the State. “For the organizations, any changes must consider the effects on this chain and preserve the legal certainty necessary for companies, clubs and other partners to plan investments and fulfill their commitments,” Lima said.

Read more Minnesota Vikings

The campaign’s “manifesto” says banning the licensed operators will not prevent people from betting, but could simply drive it under the radar. In Brazil, ANJL and IBJR cite official and industry estimates that millions of people played online prior to the prohibition and say that those who play on illegal platforms would not have to meet the same standards for identity verification, responsible gaming or taxation.

The associations also refer to estimates indicating that before the ban, already part of the betting was done illegally. In their manifesto, they claim that the ratio may grow significantly if operators are regulated out of the equation, and that they might face repercussions for tax revenues, consumer protection and fighting illegal platforms. The figures are industry estimates and part of the associations’ case against the ban.

Associations Call for Regulation Instead of Prohibition

ANJL and IBJR state that they believe more needs to be done to tackle harmful gambling and household indebtedness but do not want it to be unregulated. Their recommendations are for a more stringent deposit limit, shorter time limits on deposits, new mental health measures, more stringent rules on advertising and greater enforcement of existing laws against illegal sites.

The campaign thus puts the betting industry’s opposition to the betting ban right into the very heart of Brazilian football, and the betting companies are becoming a major business partner of the sport. The associations are taking advantage of high-profile sporting events to plead with the government that regulation should be its policy rather than prohibition as the provisional measure makes its way through the political and legal process.

Read more Tempting Treats Slot Review

Source: iGaming Brasil