Brazil: New SPA Secretary warns against betting ad ban

Brazil’s newly appointed Secretary of Prizes and Betting at the Ministry of Finance, Daniele Corrêa Cardoso, has raised concerns over a proposed bill that would prohibit advertising for betting operators, as debate intensifies in Brasília.

Cardoso, who entered the leadership of Brazil’s regulator, SPA, last week, indicated that a blanket ban may conflict with ongoing efforts to consolidate the regulated market and combat illegal operators.

The proposal, originally introduced by Senator Randolfe Rodrigues and later advanced under Senator Damares Alves in the Senate’s Science and Technology Committee, seeks to impose stricter limits on betting advertising. 

Supporters argue that marketing exposure contributes to gambling-related harm, including addiction and over-indebtedness.

However, Cardoso suggested that the timing of such a measure may be counterproductive given the sector’s early regulatory stage. 

“We question this total prohibition. At this moment, we are in the process of combating illegal operators. The consumer needs to see communication, to understand the sector and what the market is,” she said.

“We are in the process of channeling. It is about fighting the illegal market. We have already taken down more than 25,000 illegal sites. So we know it is important that, if citizens are interested in the market, they go to the regulated one.”

Industry representatives argue that regulated advertising plays a role in directing users toward licensed platforms and differentiating them from unlicensed operators.

Stakeholders have also pointed to potential knock-on effects on Brazil’s sports ecosystem, particularly football, where betting sponsorship has become a significant revenue stream.

Nickolas Tadeu Ribeiro de Campos, chairman of Ana Gaming, said: “Responsible advertising is part of the solution, as it informs consumers, creates a clear distinction between legal and illegal operators and strengthens trust in the sector.”