Senator Damares Alves says that bets are now moving amounts close to Brazil's soy exports and proposes, in her report, the prohibition of advertising and sponsorship by these companies, a business that currently supplies clubs, TV stations, and finances sports. She is the new rapporteur on the matter because two different projects on betting houses were appended. In the end, her text will be submitted for voting.
Senators mobilized around the project state that the text should be voted on next week and is proceeding on a terminative basis.
That is, after passing through the committees – the CCDD (Digital Rights and Communication Commission) first, and then the CCJ (Constitution and Justice Commission) – it goes directly to the Chamber. It is expected to be approved at least in the first committee.
Damares states that bets have raised their revenues in the country from R$ 500 million in 2018 to about R$ 240 billion this year, with advertisements, reaching a figure close to that of Brazilian soy exports.
"We remind that, while exports result in the entry of foreign exchange into the country, stemming from a dynamic sector of the economy with the generation of millions of jobs, part of the revenues from betting are sent abroad in the form of profits to tax havens, in a kind of leakage of resources from our economy", writes the senator.
According to her, remittances abroad with bets reach R$ 55 billion per year.
Damares also mentions various studies linking betting with damage to mental and financial health to justify the prohibition of advertising in this business.
One of them was conducted by the Locomotive Institute and shows that 86% of people who bet are in debt and 64% are in default.
According to Damares, these data combined with the fact that half of the people who have ever bet started this activity in 2024 confirm the power of attraction of advertising for bets, with negative consequences for the population.
No sponsorship
In addition to the prohibition of communication, marketing, and advertising actions that promote bets, both by companies and individuals (including influencers), the report foresees the prohibition of sponsorships for events of any nature, including sports, indirect advertising, subliminal propaganda, and the dissemination of content that simulates, encourages, discloses, or apologizes for betting.
Finally, the report seeks to also prohibit the pre-installation of betting apps on electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, by manufacturers.
The penalties involve warning, fines from R$ 5,000 to R$ 10 million, temporary suspension, and revocation of the authorization to operate bets.
Source: Folha
