Brazilian soccer clubs have voiced their opposition to a proposed ban on betting sponsors. More than 50 clubs issued a joint statement on Tuesday stating their concern about financial collapse due to Senator Carlos Portinho’s bill that imposes restrictions on advertising boards in stadiums and sports arenas.
The clubs believe the restrictions on sports betting ads could lead to an annual loss of R$1.6 billion (approximately US$285 million). A statement read, “The ban on displaying operators’ brands on static properties—such as billboards—inside sports venues, as stated in the revised bill, removes crucial revenue streams from the clubs.”
The Senate Sports Committee approved the bill on Wednesday. It is now scheduled for debate and voting in the full Senate. If passed, it will proceed to the Chamber of Deputies for further consideration.
Clubs are broken because of poor management
Portinho, who amended the original bill proposed by Senator Styvenson Valentim, dismissed the concerns of clubs, stating, “the clubs have been financially broken for a long time due to poor management.” He went on to add that “Football clubs are addicted. Media companies are addicted to the money from bets. In the face of this epidemic, we must act.
“The original bill from Senator Styvenson aimed to ban all betting ads. We held two public hearings and heard from many sectors, which helped shape this final version.”
Senator Romário, a World Cup winner in 1994 with Brazil’s national soccer team, proposed an amendment on May 23, allowing existing contracts to continue under current legal standards, which clubs view as a practical solution. Currently, 75% of Brazilian soccer clubs have deals with betting partners.
Romário also advocated for former athletes to be allowed to participate in betting adverts. He commented, “I’m not acting out of self-interest. Sure, many ex-players are wealthy, but others are struggling financially. This could help them.”
Brazil betting industry
The proposed ban comes at a time when Brazil has opened up its betting market to licensed operators. In January this year, the country introduced new regulations, which have seen the industry grow rapidly. This year, projections estimate online betting companies to generate BRL 31 billion ($5.4 billion) in gross gaming revenue, which could rise to BRL64 billion ($11 billion) by 2030.
As a result of the regulations, the country has clamped down on offshore sportsbooks in favor of licensed operators. Under the new regulations, all companies must pay fees and taxes, implement responsible gambling measures, and have an official website dedicated to the country using the “.bet.br” extension.
Betting bans in other countries
The clubs cited the example of Italy, which introduced a ban on gambling sponsors in 2018. Clubs estimate this has led to a €700 million ($786 million) loss over three years.
The UK is also introducing stricter rules around gambling adverts, with Premier League clubs voting to ban adverts for companies on the front of their shirts from next year. Currently 11 clubs have betting companies as their shirt sponsors. These deals collectively generate approximately £104 million per season.
The UK Gambling Commission recently issued a £3.3 million fine to TGC Europe, which accounts for 6 of the clubs’ sponsors. TGC Europe had been leasing licenses to betting brands, but the Commission claimed it was not doing proper due diligence on partners.
Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling. Adam focuses on emerging stories in the ever changing landscape of betting in the US. Read the latest on prediction markets, changing legislation, and sweepstakes.
