Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro introduced a bill to establish clear rules for influencers and require them to be certified to be able to carry out such advertisements.
Brazil.- Federal Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro presented to the Chamber of Deputies a bill that seeks to regulate digital influencers who promote online gambling and casino sites in Brazil. The goal of the proposal is to establish clear rules so that they can use their platforms responsibly and transparently when advertising bets.
Among the main requirements of the bill is the mandatory certification before the Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM), similar to that required for independent investment agents.
“The certification will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance and must include mandatory training on the risks of betting, including the presentation of real cases of bankruptcy, suicide, and family separation due to gambling addiction, to ensure that the influencer has full knowledge of the situation and the implications of promoting these activities,” says the project.
According to the bill, advertisements made by influencers must be directed exclusively to people over 18 years old, using specific tools of social networks to restrict access to the adult public. In addition, advertising campaigns must include explicit warnings about the risks associated with betting, with the aim of raising public awareness.
If they do not comply with the proposed rules, influencers will be subject to penalties similar to those applied by the CVM to independent investment agents. Fines can range from R$ 10,000 (USD 1,600), in cases of minor infractions, to up to R$ 1m (USD 160,000) in serious situations.
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“This project appears as a necessary and urgent response to the countless cases of digital influencers who promote online betting without proper regulation and transparency. By equating influencers with independent investment agents, the text aims to give greater responsibility to these figures, who have a great influence on the public, especially on the younger and more vulnerable,” explained Eduardo Bolsonaro in the document accompanying the bill.
