Key points:
- Brazilian football clubs warn that proposed changes to Bill No. 2,985/23 could lead to financial and legal disruption across the sporting sector
- An amendment by Senator Romário is supported as a practical solution to protect existing contracts and maintain essential income streams
A group of Brazilian football clubs has released a joint statement expressing concern over a proposed Substitute Bill introduced by Senator Carlos Portinho on 21 May 2025.
The proposal aims to impose commercial restrictions on betting operators' advertising rights at sports venues, which clubs argue functions as a de facto ban.
If implemented, the bill would result in an estimated annual financial loss of RL1.6bn for the Brazilian sports industry.
Smaller clubs are expected to be hit the hardest, as they depend significantly on advertising revenue for their survival and community engagement.
Clubs also warn of legal complications, with many existing contracts for stadium advertising set to run for another three years or more.
A recent amendment by Senator Romário, submitted on 23 May 2025, is viewed positively by the clubs as it allows pre-contracted advertising while aligning with current legal standards.
Good to know: Brazil’s betting regulation came into effect at the start of January 2025
The amendment proposes a clause that safeguards agreements made with stadium operators, provided they comply with competition rules and protect third-party rights.
While the clubs support measures to promote responsible gambling, they argue that blanket restrictions are not effective.
They highlight Italy’s shift away from strict gambling ad bans, following its 2018 legislation, as an example of the need for balanced regulation.
For context, Brazil began finalising the first 71 online gambling applications at the end of 2024 ahead of the regulated market launch. This initial wave of regulatory authorisations marked the country’s first steps toward a fully regulated betting industry, which has been live since the start of the year.
