The Senate Sports Committee discussed two bills that prohibit advertising by sportsbooks. In a public hearing, the committee questioned advertising in games in which bettors attempt to predict the results of sporting events (Bill 3405/2023 and Bill 2985/2023).
According to psychiatrist Hermano Tavares, it is necessary to prohibit this type of advertising to face a “calamitous” situation.
Meanwhile, Heloísa Diniz, from the Betting and Fantasy Sports Association (ABFS), advocated more oversight of the sector, instead of ending these commercials. For Senator Carlos Portinho (PL-RJ), the federal government is negligent in regulating the sector.
Experts disagree on ban
In the collegiate debate on the topic, the ABFS representative, Heloísa Diniz, said that instead of prohibiting, the correct thing to do is to strengthen the supervision of the Prizes and Betting Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance (SPA).
“The sector has already paid more than 3 billion in concession fees, we have been paying the inspection fee since January 2025. Is SPA having access to this fee? Where is this amount going?”, said Heloísa.
Also against the ban, Eduardo Godoy, from the Advertising Market Self-Regulation Forum (Cenp), an entity that brings together advertisers, agencies and media outlets, says that restricting advertising is the worst path.
“The ban does not solve the problem, it only pushes it towards illegality; and when a sector operates in the shadows, the ones who lose are the citizens, the state and society”, he stated.
Despite this, psychiatrist and professor at the University of São Paulo, Hermano Tavares, described the current situation as “calamitous”. He advocated banning advertising by sportsbooks.
“Let’s get one thing straight. Gambling is a habit-forming activity. If you gamble frequently and intensely, you will develop a habit. If this habit becomes too ingrained, it will become an addiction; just like what happens with alcohol and tobacco,” he said.
Rapporteur advocates greater government involvement in regulating the betting sector
The rapporteur, Senator Carlos Portinho, from the Rio de Janeiro PL, said that the current situation was caused by the Federal Government’s delay in regulating the betting sector.
“They had a year to prepare the regulations on advertising; and during that year, they did little, if anything”, highlighted the parliamentarian.
According to Portinho, it is also necessary to discipline the sector, restricting young people’s access to advertising from sportsbooks. He advocated defining time slots for advertising and banning this type of advertising on social media.
The role of self-regulation, according to Portinho, is complementary to the definition of rules that ensure free competition and the free market.
