A group of deputies is articulating the presentation of a PEC (Proposed Amendment to the Constitution) to limit advertising on sports betting and online gaming sites, called “bets”.
The discussion returns to the Chamber of Deputies while the game is at the center of an investigation into alleged irregular organizations and digital influencers.
The objective of the proposal is to amend article 220 of the Federal Constitution, which limits the use and advertising of cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, medicines, therapies and pesticides in Brazil.
New law proposes limiting advertising by bookmakers
Therefore, the intention is for sports betting and online games to be included in this group of products and subject to advertising restrictions. Therefore, it would be mandatory for these products to have clear warnings about the harm caused by their use.
But the proposal is currently in the signature collection phase. It is led by deputy Luiz Gastão (PSDB-CE). This is not the first time that the deputy has attempted a project on this topic. He also proposed changes to Federal Law No. 9,294, of 1996, on advertising products harmful to health.
According to Gastão, the objective is for the legislation to protect vulnerable groups, considering compulsive gambling a threat to public health and the economy. He points out that, although legislation allows sports betting, advertising remains unrestricted.
“What happens is that there are some cases of people becoming addicted to uncontrolled gambling, including gambling and credit card gambling,” reported the deputy.
It is worth remembering that the Ministry of Treasury launched a series of ordinances in recent months aiming to regulate the market from 2025 and is considering restricting PIX and debit payment methods.
Influencer advertising in check
In addition to these two projects, the Chamber is discussing other proposals that prohibit the presence of influencers in advertising activities related to sports betting companies and casinos.
Last year, the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) on financial pyramids presented a report with four bills to combat fraud and advertising. One of the projects requires contracts for influencers with more than 20 thousand followers, aiming for transparency between businesspeople and entrepreneurs.
According to deputy Ricardo Silva (PSD-SP), CPI rapporteur, many criminals who organize financial pyramids used digital influencers to attract victims.
“As we advance our investigations into the type of relationship between influencers and their subcontractors, we discover that it is often characterized by ambiguity,” he stated.
But he highlighted that it is difficult to determine the responsibility of celebrities who convince their followers to participate in financial schemes.
The communications committee approved the proposal in December 2023. Now, the Chamber’s financial, fiscal, Constitution and Justice and Citizenship committees will analyze it. Then, the deputies, in a plenary session, will vote on the bill.
