Brazilian Senate accelerates betting advertising bill
The Brazilian Senate moved two gambling bills on the same day, with the one focusing on advertising guidelines carrying the most weight. The Science and Technology Commission convened a public hearing to discuss the impact of fixed-odds betting on mental health and household finances, with a focus on Bill 2,470/2026, which seeks to set limits on advertisements and sponsorships to protect the most vulnerable groups. The initiative was signed by Senator Damares Alves and other parliamentarians, and its rapporteur, Alessandro Vieira, anticipated presenting a first version of his report on Wednesday, September 2.
The hearing presented two interpretations of the same market. Representing the government, Marcelo Kimati Dias, who heads the mental health, alcohol, and other drugs area at the Ministry of Health, estimated that around 25 million Brazilians gambled on legal platforms during 2025, with a portion of them developing gambling-related disorders.
On the other side, Carlos Lima, executive president of the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gambling, presented a study by Aliciar Consultoria on household debt, in which gambling ranked last among the factors measured. Lima supported his argument with the economic contribution of the regulated segment, which he placed at BRL 9.6 billion in revenue, over 15,500 direct and indirect jobs, and a gross turnover of BRL 35 billion. His fundamental argument was that the real problem lies with clandestine platforms, and that licensed operators are precisely those with identity verification, betting limits, and protection tools.
The second front was resolved in the Economic Affairs Commission, which approved Bill 2,584/2025 and changed the destination of a minimal portion of federal lottery revenue. The norm allocates 0.01 percent of that revenue to the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) for representation and assistance to professional athletes.
The text originated in the Chamber of Deputies, introduced by federal deputy Júlio Cesar Ribeiro, and reached the commission with Senator Leila Barros as rapporteur. Barros amended it to exclude the National Federation of Clubs from the beneficiaries and concentrate the funds on the CBC. Her defense was that the project reallocates resources without changing their purpose or creating new public spending, and that it gains administrative coherence. She also requested that the Plenary treat it with urgency, which is the next step.
Tags: Brazilian Senate, Damares Alves, Alessandro Vieira, IBJR, Brazilian Club Committee