Brazilian Lawmaker Suggests Stricter Regulations on Gambling Advertising

In anticipation of the forthcoming regulation of sports betting in Brazil, Deputy Ricardo Ayres from the state of Tocantins has introduced a new bill in the National Congress advocating for more rigorous controls on gambling advertising.

Bill 3915/2023 aims to refine Provisional Measure No. 1182 by prohibiting promotional and advertising activities of casino betting brands by digital influencers and artists. It mandates media platforms to actively oversee and eliminate non-compliant content.

Furthermore, the bill recommends stiffer penalties for non-adherence to these advertising norms. Proposed sanctions encompass escalating fines calculated based on the previous year’s revenue of the operator, asset seizures, and business intermissions lasting up to eight years. Revenue collected from these fines is intended to be redirected to educational endeavors, like the Student Financing Fund (FIES) and the University for All Program (ProUni).

Drawing parallels with the stringent norms set for tobacco advertising in 2020, Ayres, affiliated with the evangelical-influenced Republican party, emphasized that the legislation aims to reflect similar preventive measures. He asserted the Congress’s inherent duty towards safeguarding the masses.

Earlier, in July, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva endorsed the provisional measure sanctioning the regulation of sports betting. In line with this, the Ministry of Finance is on course to establish the National Secretariat for Games and Betting (SNJA) responsible for formulating licensing protocols and technical regulations. Notably, the ministry is currently in the hiring phase, aiming to occupy 70 positions.

While the existing regulations chiefly demand the promotion of responsible gambling, the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) has proactively released an advertising self-regulation code. This code advises the prohibition of betting commercials on television between 6 am to 9 pm.