Brazilian Championship games will be the stage for a protest by bettors against the Provisional Measure that prohibits the betting market.
Legalized betting companies will hold a joint demonstration at Brasileirão games to convey messages about the consequences of the ban on betting in the country. In the matches this Friday (2) and Saturday (3), companies associated with the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) will give space on the boards around the field to display the phrases.
The action is a response to Provisional Measure 1.394/2026, issued by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which bans legalized betting in the country, and refers to the manifesto released on September 25th, with the slogan... "Prohibiting is not protecting", who argues that the ban does not end gambling in the country, but rather protects those who gamble.
The signs will display the following phrases:
⇒ To prohibit is not to protect
⇒ The ban does not end gambling.
⇒ It eliminates the protection for those who gamble.
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The messages will be displayed during the matches between São Paulo and Santos this Friday, and Atlético-MG and Bragantino on Saturday. These clubs are among several impacted by the federal government's decision. The Provisional Measure affects not only commitments already made, but also the planning for upcoming seasons, the negotiation and renewal of sponsorships, and the predictability of investments in sports.
“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, points out 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," Lima stated.
About the manifesto
Signed by ANJL and IBJR alongside licensed operators in Brazil, the manifesto argues that the ban does not end betting in the country, but rather eliminates the protection of those who bet.
According to the Ministry of Finance, 31 million people were active on legalized platforms, and the vast majority were betting recreationally and responsibly. Since the enactment of the Provisional Measure last Friday, the illegal market has taken over Brazil. The manifesto, therefore, reinforces the warning that betting should be legalized, not only for the benefit of those who bet, but for the entire Brazilian society.
The document also warns of the growth of the black market, exploited by organized crime to carry out digital scams against the most vulnerable population. According to data from Legitbet, the official monitoring platform of ANJL , between September 22nd and 28th, 6.401 new illegal betting sites were confirmed, and 811 links to these platforms were identified on the monitored channels.
Before the ban, the illegal market already accounted for 41% of the volume wagered in the country, and organizations project that this number will reach 100%. The consulting firm LCA estimates that up to R$73 billion in revenue would be at risk between 2027 and 2030 if all demand migrates to illegal operators.
ANJL and IBJR reinforce their concern about household debt and problem gambling. According to these organizations, a highly regulated market is best positioned to address the problem. Therefore, they are available to discuss deposit and time limits, stricter advertising rules, mental health care, and more rigorous measures to combat illegal websites – measures that cannot be demanded of those operating clandestinely. For them, prohibition does not protect the gambler; it only pushes them into unregulated environments.
About ANJL
Launched in March 2023, the National Association of Games and Lotteries defends the interests of its members, the sector, and responsible and ethical gaming, always guided by the promotion of sports, the security of betting, and the contribution to the country's economic development.
Among the associates are: Aposta Ganha Loterias, Fast Gaming, OiG Gaming Brazil, Ana Gaming Brasil, Esportes Gaming Brasil, SPRBT Interactive Brasil, Defy, LBBR Aposta de Quota Fixa, Lucky Gaming, Reals Brasil, Gamewiz Brasil, BETBR Loterias, Versus Brasil, SorteNaBet Gaming Brasil, Blow Marketplace, Sistema Lotérico de Pernambuco, Vanguard Entretenimento Brasil, Hiper Bet Tecnologia, Pocket Games, ODDSGATE Brasil, Upbet Brasil, EB Intermediações e Big Brazil Tecnologia e Loteria, EBAC, TaDa Gaming, BB Gaming Legitimuz Tecnologia and JogaJunto.
About IBJR
The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) was founded in 2023 and brings together betting companies from Brazil and around the world. Its mission is to build an ethical, sustainable, and responsible online betting ecosystem, always advocating for a regulated market.
The organization's work is based on two essential pillars: combating the illegal gambling market and promoting responsible gambling. We believe that efficient regulation is fundamental to boosting the sector, strengthening the economy, and ensuring safety for both bettors and operators. Therefore, we actively work to confront illegal betting operations, which operate outside the law, harm the industry, and endanger society as a whole.
The IBJR has the following operators among its members: A2FBR, bet365, BandBet, BetBoom, BetMGM, Betsson Group, Digiplus (BingoPlus), Entain (Sportingbet and Betboo), Flutter Brazil (Betfair and BetNacional), Kaizen Gaming (Betano), KTO Group, Novibet, Skill on Net (Bacana Play and PlayUzu), and Todos Querem Jogar (Bet do Milhão), and its associates: Better Collective, Clever Advertising, OKTO, and ÚNICO.
