A bill proposed by Aécio Neves prohibits advertising of betting on TV, radio, and social media.

A bill proposed by federal deputy Aécio Neves ( PL 3545/2026 ) prohibits the advertising of online betting in all mass media outlets in the country, including news portals, radio, television networks, magazines, newspapers, streaming services, social networks, and billboards, among others.

Congressman Aécio met, this Wednesday (8), with the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta, to whom he detailed the project, arguing that it should be voted on under urgency procedures.

Advertising in all formats is prohibited, including product advertising and sponsorships, or advertising within the programming schedule of media outlets.

It also prohibits the hiring of artists, celebrities, influencers, or anyone else to promote betting sites.

The proposal presented in the Chamber of Deputies amends Law No. 14.790, of December 2023. If approved, the only exception for advertising will be at officially sponsored sporting events.

Online betting companies will be allowed to advertise as long as they are sponsors of the arena or stadium, the competition, or the participating teams or groups.

The communication efforts for betting will be restricted to the companies' own websites and apps, within the specific game modalities offered.

“Even though they haven’t been operating in Brazil for very long, online betting services have become a threat to the popular economy and a public health problem of great proportions for families. Today there are 187 legalized betting sites in Brazil. According to information released by the Central Bank, in August 2024 alone, 5 million beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família program spent R$ 3 billion on digital betting platforms, an amount that corresponds to 21% of the value transferred to families in the country,” the congressman warns in the justification of the bill.

Aécio's proposal makes federal law a rule that also prohibits the acceptance of cash, payment slips, checks, virtual assets or other types of crypto assets, payments or transfers from accounts that have not been previously registered by the bettor.

And also payments or transfers from third parties, credit cards or any other post-paid payment instruments that do not allow the bettor to be identified.

According to research conducted by the Brazilian Society of Retail and Consumption, among the gamblers interviewed, 63% had their income compromised due to the consumption of betting services. Furthermore, almost a quarter stated they stopped buying clothes, and 9% reduced their grocery expenses.

“Our project seeks to regulate the widespread advertising of betting that is currently done in mass media, without major restrictions. This will be done without the sudden withdrawal of these resources from sponsorships of Brazilian football, teams, and other sports currently officially sponsored,” explains Aécio.

According to the bill, spaces authorized for advertising betting sites must display warnings about the risks to bettors of the offered modalities and warnings about potential harm, such as psychological disorders.

Restrictions on advertising already apply in the country to the sale of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. Exactly 30 years ago, former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso signed Law No. 9.294, which banned cigarette commercials throughout the national territory.