TLDR
- Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) opposes Bill 3563/2024, which would ban all betting advertising and sponsorship in the country.
- The regulator argues that licensed betting ads help consumers tell legal operators apart from illegal ones.
- Over 25,000 illegal online betting sites have already been blocked in Brazil since regulation began.
- Brazil’s Central Bank has been asked to cut off payment processing for unauthorized betting platforms.
- The SPA is ramping up digital monitoring of betting ads and influencers ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Brazil’s betting regulator has come out against a proposed law that would ban all advertising and sponsorship by betting companies in the country. The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), which operates under the Ministry of Finance, said the ban could do more harm than good.
The bill in question is Bill 3563/2024. It calls for a complete ban on betting ads and sponsorship deals across Brazil.
SPA deputy secretary Daniele Correa Cardoso spoke to Brazilian news portal Jota about the issue. She said an outright advertising ban in a newly regulated market could backfire.
Cardoso explained that if licensed companies cannot advertise, bettors may struggle to tell legal platforms from illegal ones. That confusion could push consumers toward unregulated operators.
“Commercial communication of licensed platforms is the primary tool for users to differentiate legal operators from illegal operators,” Cardoso said.
Brazil Has Already Blocked Over 25,000 Illegal Betting Sites
The Brazilian government has been actively cracking down on illegal gambling operations since launching its regulated betting market. The SPA said it has worked with the National Telecommunications Agency, known as Anatel, to block more than 25,000 illegal online betting sites.
The government has also asked the Central Bank to stop payment institutions from processing transactions linked to unauthorized betting platforms. This financial pressure is part of a broader strategy to cut off resources for illegal operators.
The regulator said it has made structural progress in the first year of regulation. This includes building detailed demographic data on Brazilian online bettors.
A centralized self-exclusion system has also been put in place. The system is designed to support responsible gambling across all licensed operators.
SPA Plans Tighter Digital Monitoring Before the 2026 World Cup
Looking ahead, the SPA is preparing for a new phase of digital monitoring as the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws closer. The tournament will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The regulator is concerned that betting companies licensed in those host countries, but not in Brazil, may try to reach Brazilian consumers through online ads. This could undermine Brazil’s regulated market.
To address this, the SPA has made monitoring of digital influencers and betting affiliates a priority for the coming year. These individuals and groups often promote betting platforms on social media.
The regulator plans to sign technical cooperation agreements with the Brazilian National Advertising Self-Regulation Council, known as Conar, and the Digital Council. These partnerships are meant to help automate the detection and removal of irregular betting ads.
The goal is to protect the integrity of Brazil’s licensed betting market before one of the world’s biggest sporting events. The SPA said these automated systems would allow for the immediate removal of unauthorized advertising.
Brazil’s regulated betting market is still in its early stages, and the government continues to adjust its approach. The SPA’s latest comments signal that it views advertising regulation, rather than an outright ban, as the more effective path forward.
The cooperation agreements with Conar and the Digital Council are expected to be established ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off in June.
