Betnacional, part of Flutter Brazil, has announced a partnership with Caramelo Institute to finance the care of all cats currently housed by the organization, as well as new rescues, over a six-month period leading into the 2026 World Cup.
The Caramelo Institute is a non-governmental, non-profit organization to care for stray animals. With a 24-hour veterinary hospital, it cares for over 300 animals, providing free spaying and neutering, emergency training and support until animals are ready for adoption.
The funding will cover food, veterinary appointments, medication, vaccines and general welfare costs for animals already under the NGO's care.
It will also support emergency treatment for cats rescued during the duration of the partnership, providing financial stability for the organization at the start of a year expected to bring increased demand for animal rescue services.
The initiative is part of Betnacional's "Movimento Antizica" ("Movement Against in Bad Luck") campaign, which originated online in late 2025 following viral discussions linking Brazil's 2022 World Cup elimination to an incident involving a cat during a press conference in Qatar.
What began as a meme evolved into a careful campaign combining fan engagement with a social support element, especially since some Brazilians consider cats to be bad luck.
Representatives from Caramelo Institute said the funding will help maintain day-to-day operations while allowing the organisation to continue accepting new animals in need of care.
The partnership reflects a trend among licensed operators in Brazil to align brand activations with social or community initiatives, particularly as public and regulatory scrutiny of the sector increases.
Earlier this year, the operator integrated content from Hacksaw Gaming, adding the supplier's titles to its local offering and improving its product portfolio within the country.
Betnacional recently secured the naming rights to a national women's football tournament in Brazil, Copa Maria Bonita
