The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), told the Poder360 portal that the House should act cautiously before moving forward with proposals that prohibit sports betting advertising in Brazil.
The statement came after a bill banning advertising in the sector advanced in the Senate. Hugo Motta stated, “We have to proceed with great caution on this.”
Motta said that the ban on gambling advertising has not yet reached a consensus among party leaders in the Chamber of Representatives, but acknowledged that the debate should gain traction in Congress in the coming weeks.
He says the discussion needs to consider the economic impact of the sector, especially on the financing of sports and events.
Why Motta urges caution regarding the ban on betting advertising.
The Speaker of the House stated that a total ban could generate significant side effects, especially in Brazilian soccer, since the sport is heavily dependent on sponsorships from betting companies.
In this sense, he indicates that the path forward may focus on improving regulation and combating illegal platforms.
Hugo Motta stated: “I think that today you have [advertising and sponsorship from betting companies] both in the media and in football itself, events. [There is] a great dependence on this sector that helps to sponsor, to finance.”
This is also important to take into consideration. I think that perhaps the solution isn’t that [banning all betting advertising], especially since it’s a legalized activity, just like alcohol and smoking are legalized in Brazil.
That [betting] is also legal by law. They are paying taxes. So, the abuse may not be there [the advertising of bets]. It may lie in combating the illegal, in building this in a more reasoned way.”
According to the Speaker of the House, completely banning advertising could have an immediate impact on the funding of sports clubs and competitions. He stated that the issue requires caution before any legislative decision.
Bill advances in the Senate.
The proposal cited by Motta refers to Bill 3,563 of 2024, approved in the Senate’s Science, Technology Committee on Wednesday (4). The text prohibits advertising, sponsorship and promotion of sports betting and online games.
The author of the proposal is Senator Randolfe Rodrigues (PT-AP). Senator Damares Alves (Republicanos-DF) was the rapporteur. The text now goes to the CCJ (Committee on Constitution and Justice) for analysis.
In addition to this project, Congress is analyzing Bill 2,985 of 2023, approved by the Senate in May 2025, which alters rules for advertising sports betting. The text is stalled in the Chamber of Deputies and awaits the creation of a special committee for analysis.
What does the betting industry say?
The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) stressed that broad restrictions on advertising in the online betting sector could contribute to the strengthening of the illegal market.
According to IBJR, which represents betting companies, advertising communication allows consumers to identify platforms that operate regularly, under state supervision, and to differentiate these companies from operators that act outside the law.
In the statement, the institute affirmed that advertising is used by regulated sectors of the economy to inform the public about licensed companies that are subject to operating rules, including practices related to responsible gambling.
IBJR also stated that limiting communication from authorized companies could reduce the visibility of the formal market. Furthermore, it could expand the scope of operations for illegal platforms.
The institute cited a survey according to which sports betting accounted for approximately 20% of the complaints received by Conar (National Council for Advertising Self-Regulation) in 2024.
Currently, gambling advertising in Brazil follows rules that prohibit promises of income, the use of child idols, and require warnings about responsible gambling.
