Brazilian Congresswoman Tabata Amaral has warned that the betting industry is seeking to expand its political influence in Brazil, arguing that the sector’s growing economic power is increasingly shaping public debate beyond gambling policy itself.
Speaking to local media, the lawmaker claimed that betting operators are using sponsorships and commercial partnerships to indirectly influence public opinion and political discussions.
Amaral recently became involved in a legal dispute with a major entertainment and celebrity news platform after publishing a video questioning the relationship between betting sponsorship and political content distributed on social media.
According to the congresswoman, the issue extends beyond gambling advertising and raises broader questions about transparency and influence in digital media.
The lawmaker has emerged as one of the most prominent political voices supporting tighter restrictions on betting activity in Brazil. Recently, she joined politicians from across the political spectrum in launching the “Brazil against betting" initiative, a campaign aimed at advancing stricter controls on online gambling.
Participants include lawmakers from both left- and right-wing parties, reflecting growing concern about gambling-related harm among different political groups.
"Today we are facing the biggest lobby in Brazil," Amaral said.
Recently, Brazil’s Senate Science and Technology Committee approved legislation that would prohibit advertising for fixed-odds betting and online gambling operators nationwide. The proposal now moves to the Constitution and Justice Committee for further analysis and the industry has already expressed concern over it.
Brazilian lawmakers are also advancing separate proposals that would ban betting sponsorships in football and introduce additional restrictions on gambling advertising
