Brazil Senate Committee to debate sports betting ad restrictions on Wednesday

Brazil's Senate Sports Committee will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 23 to debate two bills that propose restrictions on advertising by sports betting platforms, including a ban on promotions involving athletes and celebrities.

The hearing, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. local time, will consider Bill 2,985/2023, authored by Senator Styvenson Valentim, which seeks to prohibit general advertising by companies offering sports betting services. Valentim cited the growing economic influence of the betting sector as justification for stronger oversight.

Valentim said in his proposal that, given the economic power accumulated by betting companies, the Legislature must act to establish limits on their activity.

A second measure, Bill 3,405/2023, introduced by Senator Eduardo Girão, aims to bar public figures from endorsing betting platforms. The bill would prohibit promotions by current and former athletes, sports commentators, celebrities, and digital influencers.

Senators Carlos Portinho and Sérgio Petecão serve as rapporteurs for the respective bills.

The session will feature testimony from a range of legal, academic, industry, and civil society representatives. The list of invited guests includes:

• Álvaro Guilherme de Oliveira Chaves, lawyer 

• André Carvalho Sica, lawyer specializing in sports law

• Eduardo Godoy, vice president of the Advertising Market Self-Regulation Forum (Cenp)

• Felipe Tavares, economist at the National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC)

• Fernando Gallo Fernandes, director of public policy at Betano

• Fernando Vieira, executive president of the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR)

• Flávio Ferreira de Lara Resende, president of the Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (Abert)

• Heloísa Diniz, public relations officer for the Bets and Fantasy Sports Association (ABFS)

• Hermano Tavares, psychiatrist and professor at the University of São Paulo

• Juliana Nakata Albuquerque, executive vice president of the National Advertising Self-Regulation Council (Conar)

• Luiz Felipe Guimarães Santoro, legal advisor to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF)

• Maria Góes de Mello, coordinator of the Children and Consumer Program at the Alana Institute

• Renato Meireles, representative of the Locomotiva Institute

Citizens may participate by submitting questions and comments via the Senate Ombudsman’s Office or the Portal e-Cidadania. The Senate will issue certificates of participation for attendees.