Brazil Considers Bill to Ban Gambling Ads Amid Youth Betting Surge

On Wednesday, March 12, the Sports Commission (CEsp) will convene to review a proposed law aimed at prohibiting fixed-odds betting advertisements throughout Brazil.

This legislation, introduced by Senator Styvenson Valentim, seeks to revise Article 33 of Law No. 13,756/2018, which established regulations for fixed-odds sports betting within the country. If passed, this amendment would ban promotional gambling content across all media platforms.

Senator Valentim’s rationale for advocating this ban stems from concerns that betting companies are flouting existing marketing restrictions, especially those targeting younger demographics. He expressed, “This initiative is warranted due to the significant shift in the demographics of bettors, who are now predominantly young individuals able to place bets at any time, triggering impulsive actions without any constraints.”

The CEsp meeting, slated to start at 10:30 AM local time, will consider the bill before forwarding it to the Communication and Digital Law Commission (CCDD) for further evaluation on its progression.

Brazil has already taken steps to control advertising in this sector. On December 6, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets enacted several advertising regulations meant to come into effect with the legal market’s launch on January 1, 2025. These measures include a prohibition on ads targeting children and adolescents and restrictions on advertising in media where minors constitute the majority of the audience. Moreover, all advertisements must now display an ’18+’ warning or state, “prohibited for individuals under 18.”

Senator Carlos Portinho, who had previously sought to exclude igaming from existing betting regulations, has expressed his support for Valentim’s initiative. He noted in December that the “bill deserves to advance.” Portinho has proposed several modifications, such as banning betting advertisements on the radio from 10 PM to 6 AM and imposing a comprehensive ban on advertising through printed or electronic media in Brazil. Additionally, his amendments would prohibit the use of athletes or other celebrities in these ads and restrict promotional text messages or mobile notifications related to gambling.

Portinho emphasized the detrimental impact of unchecked gambling advertising, asserting, “The extensive promotion in this industry misleads audiences into believing that luck will bring them financial freedom, which starkly contrasts with the reality of increased financial hardship among economically vulnerable populations.”