Senate in Brazil passes bill limiting advertising for gambling

Senate in Brazil passes bill limiting advertising for gambling

Brazilian Senate Approves Strict New Rules for Gambling Advertisements

The Brazilian Senate has approved Bill PL 2.985/2023, a new regulatory framework aimed at controlling advertising related to fixed-odds and online betting in Brazil. The bill, which was passed on May 28, 2025, introduces several specific prohibitions and limitations on gambling advertisements.

One of the key restrictions outlined in the bill is the ban on the use of gambling tutorials or instructional content. This prohibition extends to athletes, artists, media personalities, influencers, or public figures. Additionally, advertising in stadiums or other sports venues, as well as during live sports broadcasts, is not allowed under the new rules.

Senator Styvenson Valentim, a prominent supporter of the bill, has highlighted the harmful impact of gambling and pushed for the limitation of gambling advertisements. According to the bill, advertising campaigns for gambling must not portray betting as a desirable aspiration, a source of income, a solution to financial problems, or a way of life.

The bill also specifically restricts the promotion of fixed-odds betting. Advertisements must not display updated betting odds during events, and any promotional activities are subject to the new limitations.

However, the new regulations have sparked concerns among various soccer clubs and the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR). Both parties believe the new rules could be detrimental to the survival of smaller clubs and the expansion of the illegal gambling market.

Several soccer clubs have criticized the new regulations, fearing an immediate annual loss of approximately R$1.6 billion (around USD $310 million) if the proposed law is implemented. The IBJR argues that legal advertising plays a crucial role in informing the public and enabling individuals to distinguish between regulated platforms and unregulated alternatives. The institute fears that the bill's severe restrictions could create opportunities for the illegal gambling market to expand.

In a joint statement, soccer clubs and Games Magazine Brazil appealed to the Senate committees reviewing the bill to proceed with caution, responsibility, and an understanding of the potential damage it could cause to football and Brazilian sports. The discussion on limiting gambling advertisement picked up in pace in April, and the exact restrictions introduced by Bill PL 2.985/2023 are yet to be fully detailed.

References: 1. Brazil Senate Approves Bill to Regulate Gambling Advertising 2. Brazilian Senate Approves Bill to Regulate Gambling Advertisements 3. Brazil Senate Approves Bill to Regulate Gambling Ads

1. The bill also prohibits gambling personalities, such as athletes and media figures, from endorsing gambling-tutorials or instructional content in casino-advertisements.
2. The new policies and legislation are part of broader casino-and-gambling trends aiming to promote responsible gambling and minimize the harm caused by gambling addictions.
3. The approved bill includes restrictions on promoting casino-games like lotteries and fixed-odds betting, with prohibitions on displaying updated betting odds during events.
4. The bill's impact on policy-and-legislation surrounding gambling advertisements goes beyond Brazil and could influence general-news coverage of gambling-trends worldwide.
5. The ongoing debates and revisions of the bill have generated controversy in politics, particularly concerning the potential negative consequences its implementation may have on the casino-industry and responsible-gambling initiatives.

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