The Plenary of the Belo Horizonte City Council (CMBH) may analyze this Wednesday (10), in the second round, two bills that propose restrictions on advertising by online betting companies, known as bets.
The proposals, identified as PL 297/2025 and PL 362/2025, were processed together due to the similarity of their contents. However, voting will take place separately. To be approved, texts must receive at least 21 votes in favor.
The initiatives present different levels of restrictions on the advertising of betting platforms in the capital of Minas Gerais.
What Pedro Rousseff’s project predicts
Authored by councilor Pedro Rousseff (PT), PL 297/2025 establishes limitations for the advertising of online betting platforms, including services related to electoral predictions.
Furthermore, the text prohibits companies in the sector from sponsoring sporting, cultural, educational and civic events held in the city.
The proposal also restricts indirect forms of advertising on social networks and prohibits the pre-installation of betting applications on electronic devices.
The project provides exceptions for lotteries and draws promoted by public bodies or companies authorized by federal legislation.
When defending the measure, Pedro Rousseff stated:
“In front of a public school, for example, there doesn’t have to be a bet advertisement (…) It is our duty as representatives of the people of BH to solve problems that are sensitive to our population.”
Project expands restrictions on promotional actions
PL 362/2025, presented by councilor Wagner Ferreira (Rede) and signed by seven other parliamentarians, adopts a broader approach.
The proposal prohibits any form of online betting advertising in Belo Horizonte. Furthermore, it vetoes promotional actions frequently used by the sector.
Among the measures envisaged are the prohibition of the distribution of gifts and promotional coupons, the holding of draws, events and championships linked to betting platforms.
The text also prevents the installation of totems, terminals or equipment that allow access to betting in commercial establishments.
Another foreseen restriction is the association of brands in the sector with public equipment and events promoted by the municipality.
According to Wagner Ferreira, the debate gained relevance given the social impacts related to the growth of online betting.
“In BH, we can create a perhaps unprecedented mechanism and an example for all capitals and even for the National Congress, which has been omitted, preventing this discussion, while several Brazilians have suffered losses”, he stated.
Projects will be analyzed in the second round
Despite having been processed jointly, the two proposals will be assessed individually during this Wednesday’s session.
According to the Chamber’s regulations, voting will follow the chronological order in which the projects are presented. Therefore, PL 297/2025 should be analyzed first, except for any request for preference presented by councilors.
If approved in the second round, the projects will be subject to sanction or veto by the mayor of Belo Horizonte.
