Online betting operators used pitch-side advertising space during Brazilian Championship matches this weekend.
The companies used the space to protest the federal provisional measure banning the sector. The protest appeared during the São Paulo vs. Santos match Friday night and the Atlético-MG vs. Bragantino match Saturday, with companies affiliated with the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) giving their advertising boards to display messages including "Banning isn't protecting," "Prohibition doesn't end betting," and "It ends protection for bettors."
The campaign references a manifesto the associations published September 25 under the same "Banning isn't protecting" slogan, arguing a ban wouldn't eliminate betting activity in the country.
"For ANJL and IBJR, maintaining a regulated environment with clear rules and legal certainty is fundamental so that clubs, companies, and other agents in the sports chain can plan their long-term investments," said Plínio Lemos Jorge, President of ANJL.
Carlos Lima, President of IBJR, states that the discussion also involves the predictability of a market structured based on authorizations granted by the State itself.
"For the entities, any changes must consider the effects on this chain and preserve the legal certainty necessary for companies, clubs, and other partners to plan investments and fulfill commitments made," said Lima.
Football stakeholders have pursued their own response to the ban. Congressman and former Flamengo VP Marcos Braz has filed six amendments to the provisional measure, including a proposal giving clubs up to two years to transition away from betting sponsorships.
Recently, several of Brazil's leading football clubs published a separate joint statement defending the regulated betting market
