Brazil: Senate proposes athlete and celebrity ban from betting advertisements

Key Points
- Proposal bans athletes, influencers and celebrities from appearing in betting ads, with exceptions for long-retired players
- Under the proposed legislation, ads would have to display license numbers and carry a mandatory warning message
Brazilian senator Carlos Portinho has proposed new restrictions on sports betting advertisements, which would prohibit current athletes, celebrities and influencers from appearing in any type of ad for betting operators. The only exception would be retired athletes who ended their careers many years ago.
Portinho reportedly aims to submit his final report by mid-May. In addition to content restrictions, the bill would also require all betting advertisements to include a visible warning with the company’s official license number.
According to the senator, this measure is meant to combat illegal betting operations that operate outside the oversight of the Ministry of Finance. One of the proposals also involves stricter time limits on television broadcasts.
“The idea is to make it harder for these ads to reach children and teenagers,” Portinho stated.
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He clarified the bill does not intend to restrict sponsorships involving football clubs, tournaments or audiovisual content, allowing partnerships between betting firms and clubs or leagues to continue.
The proposed changes come amid broader efforts by Brazilian lawmakers to regulate the growing sports betting sector, which has seen a surge in advertising and sponsorship deals following new legislation established in 2023.