Representatives from betting industry associations receive tribute at the National Congress.
The National Congress was, this Thursday, the stage for recognition of the work of professionals representing some of the main associations in the Brazilian gaming and betting market. The tribute highlights the importance of the institutional work developed by entities that give voice to the sector, defend its legitimate interests, and contribute to broadening the dialogue with public authorities and society.
Among those honored with the Juscelino Kubitschek Entrepreneurial Merit Cross are Alessandro Valente, president of the advisory board of ABRAJOGO; Ana Bárbara Teixeira, co-founder of AMIG; Aldi Almeida, communications director of ABRAJOGO; Ana Clara Barros, vice-president of Aigaming – International Gaming Association; and Leonardo Benites, communications director of ANJL – National Association of Games and Lotteries.
Held within the framework of the International Forum on Digital Influence – FIID 2026, the award recognizes trajectories that converge on a common purpose: to contribute to ensuring that the regulated gaming and betting market is represented in a qualified manner in institutional dialogue spaces and understood in its economic, social, and strategic dimension for the country.
Organized by ABRID – the Brazilian Association of Digital Influence, in its capacity as Executive Secretariat of the Parliamentary Front for Digital Influence (FRENID), the meeting brought together representatives from different sectors at the National Congress to discuss digital influence, innovation, the economy, development, and new communication and business environments.
For Alessandro Valente, the recognition also symbolizes a collectively built trajectory. “ABRAJOGO is celebrating a decade of activity as one of the pioneering entities in the Brazilian iGaming and betting market. Throughout these years, we have worked to represent the sector, bring different agents closer together, and contribute to building a more responsible, ethical, and sustainable environment. Receiving this honor in the National Congress, at such an important moment for the consolidation of the regulated market in Brazil, is a source of pride and reinforces our responsibility to remain present and active,” emphasizes the president of ABRAJOGO's advisory board.
Ana Bárbara Teixeira, co-founder of AMIG, emphasizes the importance of collective construction to broaden market representation. “A strong sector is also built on the ability to unite different voices around common agendas. Association creates spaces for listening, dialogue, and building solutions, in addition to strengthening communication with public authorities and society. This recognition highlights the importance of continuing to work together in a proactive and collaborative way,” she states.
For Aldi Almeida, communications director at ABRAJOGO, the tribute also draws attention to the importance of communication and digital influence in shaping public perception of the sector. “Associations play a fundamental role in bringing information, context, and different perspectives to the public debate. Representing the sector also means contributing to making its positive externalities, its challenges, and its capacity to generate jobs, income, entrepreneurship, and innovation known to society. In this process, digital influence has a decisive impact: it broadens the reach of information, shapes perceptions, brings institutions and audiences closer together, and can contribute to a more qualified understanding of the regulated market. When used responsibly, transparently, and purposefully, it becomes an important ally in building trust and strengthening dialogue with society,” she states.
Ana Clara Barros, vice-president of Aigaming – the International Gaming Association, highlights the importance of unity among entities for advancing the sector's agenda. “We have different associations, experiences, and areas of expertise, but many of the challenges are shared. The ability to build convergences strengthens institutional representation and allows the market to participate in debates more consistently. This award recognizes this work and encourages us to continue expanding spaces for dialogue and cooperation,” she states.
According to Leonardo Benites, communications director of ANJL – the National Association of Games and Lotteries – strengthening representation also involves improving the quality of information available about the sector. “There is a great responsibility in communicating about a market that still faces misinformation and distorted perceptions. Associations help to present data, clarify concepts, and bring the sector closer to society. The more qualified this dialogue is, the better the conditions will be for building a perception based on information, responsibility, and the reality of the regulated market,” he emphasizes.
Unity, representation, and strengthening the market.
The presence of representatives from ABRAJOGO, Aigaming, AMIG, and ANJL in the National Congress symbolizes the strength of the union between entities that work to represent and defend the Brazilian market. These associations transform individual demands into collective agendas, represent the legitimate interests of companies and professionals, promote institutional dialogue, and work to ensure that the challenges, particularities, and contributions of the sector are present in the spaces where decisions are debated and formulated.
More than just representing their members, these entities play a strategic role in defending a legal, competitive, and responsible market. By bringing together different stakeholders around common goals, they help to improve the quality of public debate, present data and perspectives, defend legal certainty, encourage best practices, and build bridges between the sector, public authorities, and society.
At a particularly important time for the consolidation of the regulated betting market in Brazil, this action becomes even more necessary. Representing the sector also means expanding access to information, confronting misconceptions, and ensuring that the positive impacts of the activity—such as investments, job and income generation, entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, and entertainment—are part of the public discussion.
The tribute in the National Congress therefore recognizes not only professional trajectories, but also the strength of associative action and the digital influence ecosystem in building agendas relevant to the country. In a sector undergoing transformation, strong and active associations are fundamental to expanding representation, defending legitimate interests, improving public debate, and strengthening institutional dialogue, while digital influence assumes an increasingly strategic role in shaping perceptions, circulating information, and connecting brands, institutions, public authorities, and society. This convergence creates space to present the contributions of the regulated gaming and betting market, address misconceptions, broaden understanding of its positive externalities, and contribute to the sector occupying its space responsibly, proactively, and in line with the country's development.
