During the Bets CPI meeting, held this Thursday (8), Sérgio Pompilio, president of the National Advertising Self-Regulation Council (Conar), defended the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors in regulating betting advertisements.
He highlighted that advertising carried out by digital influencers on social networks remains the main obstacle for Conar, which traditionally worked with companies.
Pompilio clarified that Conar has sought to align actions with the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), the federal body responsible for overseeing the sector, to adapt to the new dynamics of digital communications and the legalization of bets.
Sérgio Pompilio stated: “A ‘consequences system’ is being built in which [problematic cases identified by Conar] will generate a list for the secretariat, which has police powers, so that other measures can be taken. Most likely, the consequence, in addition to the fine, will be the suspension of the [betting company’s] authorization.”
In response to a question from Senator Soraya Thronicke (Podemos-MS), rapporteur of the CPI, Pompilio informed that “there is still no closed and aligned system of consequences” with the SPA to prevent abuses by influencers in the disclosure of bets.
Advertising standards in the sector follow Law 14,790 of 2023 and Ordinance 1,231 of July 2024 of the Ministry of Finance. These standards prohibit, for example, false promises of gains or appeals to children.
Independent entity
Conar is an independent entity focused on self-regulation, where industry agents submit to its rules. Pompilio explained that Conar’s decisions fall on the content of advertising pieces (maintaining, altering or suspending these pieces), not on agents, using fines as a sanction.
Pompilio’s summons responded to a request from Senator Izalci Lucas (PL-DF), who presided over the session (REQ 116/2024 – CPI das Bets). As the senator noted, there are experts who consider Conar’s actions to be “ineffective in curbing abusive betting advertising”, even after the insertion, in 2023, of a specific annex in the code for the sector.
Izalci Lucas also announced the postponement of the testimony of influencer Luiz Ricardo Melquiades, known as Rico Melquiades, which would take place at the same meeting.
Ban on betting advertising
Senators Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE) and Damares Alves (Republicanos-DF) spoke out against advertising in the betting sector. Damares, rapporteur of Bill 3,563/2024 on the subject, presented a version that prohibits the disclosure of bets.
Pompilio believes that regulating advertising helps identify companies authorized by the government, avoiding space for illegal ones.
Sérgio Pompilio stressed: “The path of an eventual complete ban could generate much more confusion and losses, because it leaves the field open to anyone who wants to act illegally. Eighty percent of the complaints we receive, whether from consumers or other bets, are about unauthorized bets. That is the problem.”
Since 2018, with Law 13,756, the betting sector has been undergoing a process of opening. However, the Executive Branch only regulated the sector in January 2025, after the transition phase that took place in 2024.
President of Conar talks about digital influencers
Pompilio attributes to digital influencers a decisive role in the regulatory difficulties faced by Conar. According to the law, such advertisements fall under its jurisdiction, but to increase their effectiveness, the supervision system needs to be strengthened.
As an alternative, Pompilio suggested that Conar promote ethical training and accredit influencers, informing them about legal obligations and punishments.
Sérgio Pompilio explained: “When we have this well-structured framework, it will be easy for a bet to know who are the influencers who have undergone ethical training, who know the system of consequences. If they are not respecting these rules, they will simply not be hired [by bet].
If the influencer understands that he is advertising an unauthorized bet, the immediate consequence is that he will no longer be hired by those brands that want a professional who works with the rules of responsible advertising”.
The president of Conar explained that the agency uses a platform based on artificial intelligence to monitor advertising. While it does not operate the consequences system with SPA, Conar only works with private agents that already accept its mediation, including social networks.
Pompilio stressed: “We will be able to ask the advertiser to remove [an advertisement that violates the law]. If they don’t remove it, we will ask the influencer. If [the influencer] doesn’t remove it, the platform has to remove it. These are very specific cases today in which Google or Google doesn’t comply. [Regarding illegal betting] I have no way of controlling a company that was created in Asia, but […] it reaches teenagers.”
The CPI has already received 15 requests for statements or sending of banking and tax data linked to influencers.
Closure of the Bets CPI
During the meeting, Senator Soraya Thronicke criticized the extension of the CPI to only 45 days and stated that the leaders did not inform her of the agreed deadline. Therefore, the rapporteur pointed out obstacles to the progress of the activities, such as constant absences and difficulties in obtaining a quorum, in addition to testimonies that did not take place.
Soraya also supported Girão’s request to hear lobbyist and businessman Silvio Assis, mentioned in a report that denounces an alleged extortion scheme against businessmen in the sector, using the CPI as a form of pressure.
Eduardo Girão reported: “The mechanism of this alleged scheme would consist of the fact that parliamentarians, who were not directly involved in the extortion, would present a request to summon businessmen to testify at the CPI.
Then, a well-known lobbyist from Brasília, identified as Silvio Assis, with alleged influence over congressmen, approached the businessmen, offering them ‘solutions’ to avoid ‘embarrassment’ by paying large sums of money. Veja magazine brought serious allegations.”
Soraya, mentioned as “connected to Silvio Assis” in the report, claimed to be the victim of slander and defamation. She suggested a meeting so that, together with Silvio Assis and Senator Ciro Nogueria (PP-PI), also mentioned, they could provide clarifications.
Soraya Thronicke suggested: “I would like a confrontation between me, Senator Ciro and Mr. Silvio himself. He [Silvio Assis] is asking to come and they won’t let him. Why? Because he also has something to tell.”