Four weeks after Brazil’s ban on online betting advertising and operations took effect, progressive voices have expressed relief at the disappearance of betting promotions from football, music and social media.
“The relief of these 4 weeks without betting ads, betting posts, no betting on football, no betting on music, without that hell excess of betting. A blessing! Thank you, Lula!”
The public response comes amid wider signs of support for the restrictions. A survey by Sebrae found that 66% of Brazil’s micro and small businesses support the ban, with 26% saying online betting had contributed to lower revenue over the previous year.
Lula has also defended the prohibition, citing cases of young people falling into debt through gambling. “And I can tell you: betting will not return. Whoever wants to make money will go to work,” he said recently, signaling little appetite within the Government to reverse course.
However, the response has been more divided among content creators whose audiences were built around betting promotions. Some have publicly criticised the Government’s decision to ban licensed betting operators.
Still, even part of the industry agrees that the amount of ads before the ban was excessive. “The industry’s commercial presence had grown faster than public trust,” industry voices previously told Global Gaming Insider, underscoring the reputational challenges facing the sector before the restrictions were introduced.
Meanwhile, the sector is preparing legal challenges. Betano is reportedly preparing action to protect its rights under its five-year operating licence.
Brazil’s federal betting tax collection has also reached BR11.1bn ($2.14bn) between January and September 2026, according to the Federal Revenue Service.
Brazil’s betting ban is also affecting employment, with at least 36 of the 188 previously authorised brands reported to have carried out layoffs.
