Brazilian Operators Display Message in the Brasileirão Against the MP Prohibiting Betting
Operators showcase a manifesto in stadiums, questioning the effectiveness of prohibition.
Key Takeaways
- Operators associated with ANJL and IBJR displayed boards at Brasileirão matches on October 2 and 3, 2026, with the slogan 'Proibir não é proteger'.
- The action protests against Provisional Measure 1.394/2026, signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which prohibits the market for legalised betting.
- The Ministry of Finance estimated 31 million active users on legal platforms before the MP; Legitbet recorded 6,401 new illegal sites between September 22 and 28.
- Consultancy LCA estimates that R$73,000,000,000 in revenue could be at risk between 2027 and 2030 if demand shifts to the illegal market.
Legalised betting operators organised a joint action at Brasileirão matches on October 2 and 3, 2026, to denounce Provisional Measure 1.394/2026, which prohibits the betting market in Brazil. Associated with the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), the companies donated space on field boards to display the manifesto's slogan: "Proibir não é proteger".
Manifesto and Messages in the Stadiums: What Was Shown and When
The boards repeated three key phrases: "Proibir não é proteger", "A proibição não acaba com as apostas" and "Acaba com a proteção de quem aposta". The messages appeared during the match between São Paulo and Santos on Friday, October 2, and in the game Atlético-MG against Bragantino on Saturday, October 3. The clubs were mentioned in the statement as part of several actors impacted by the federal government’s decision.
Why the Associations Promoted the Manifesto Against the MP Prohibiting Betting
The action is a response to the issuance of Provisional Measure 1.394/2026, signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which bans the operation of legalised betting in the country. The manifesto published on September 25 carries the slogan "Proibir não é Proteger" and argues that prohibition will not eliminate betting but will eliminate protections for those who gamble.
Plínio Lemos Jorge, president of the National Association of Games and Lotteries, stated:
"For ANJL and IBJR, maintaining a regulated environment with clear rules and legal security is essential for clubs, companies, and other agents in the sports chain to plan their long-term investments."
Carlos Lima, president of the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming, pointed out:
"For the entities, any potential changes must consider their effects on this chain and preserve the legal security necessary for companies, clubs, and other partners to plan investments and meet existing commitments."
Data on Reach, Risks of Illegal Market, and Figures Cited by the Entities
The manifesto reminds readers of official and monitoring figures: according to the Ministry of Finance, 31 million individuals were active on legalised platforms before the MP. The monitoring platform Legitbet, affiliated with ANJL, identified 6,401 new illegal betting sites between September 22 and 28, in addition to 811 links to those platforms in monitored channels. Before the measure was implemented, the illegal market already accounted for 41% of the total volume wagered in the country; the entities fear that this percentage could rise to 100%.
The consultancy LCA projects that up to R$73,000,000,000 in revenue could be at risk between 2027 and 2030 if all demand shifts to illegal operators.
Complaints and Proposals by ANJL and IBJR Regarding Regulation and Complementary Measures
ANJL and IBJR maintain that a regulated market allows for the implementation of responsible gambling measures that the clandestine market does not offer. Among the proposals they put forward are limits on deposits and time, stricter advertising rules, mental health care protocols, and strengthened mechanisms against illegal sites. The entities express their willingness to discuss these limits and measures with authorities.
ANJL emphasises that the lack of legal security affects already signed commitments, planning for upcoming seasons, the negotiation and renewal of sponsorships, and investment predictability for clubs and companies.
Who Signed the Manifesto and Who Is Part of Each Association
The manifesto was signed by the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) along with licensed operators in Brazil. ANJL, launched in March 2023, groups companies that advocate for responsible gaming and contribute to the country's economic development; among its members 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.
The Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming, founded in 2023, includes domestic and international operators and works on two pillars: combating the clandestine market and promoting responsible gaming. Among its members are 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). They also have partner companies like Better Collective, Clever Advertising, OKTO, and ÚNICO.
Immediate Impact and Signals for Operators, Clubs, and Regulators
The entities alert about the advance of the clandestine market and its use by organised crime to perpetrate digital frauds against vulnerable populations. ANJL and IBJR relate the prohibition to an increased risk of household debt and a worsening of problematic gambling due to the loss of regulatory instruments to mitigate it.
For sector actors, the dispute is no longer just commercial: it concerns the legal framework that will provide predictability for contracts and sponsorships. This discussion now requires dialogue among associations, operators, and public authorities to define limits that, according to the entities, only a regulated framework can effectively oversee.
Where to Follow the Discussion
The initiative in the stadiums has placed the issue on the public agenda during the Brasileirão matches and opened a visible pressure channel towards the Executive and Legislative branches. Discussions will continue in forums on regulation and in sector events; the involved clubs have already received signals from sponsors and the value chain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Provisional Measure that motivated the manifesto?
Provisional Measure 1.394/2026 is the regulation signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that prohibits the legalised betting market in Brazil. It triggered the campaign and the manifesto released on September 25, and since its publication, entities state that the illegal market has expanded.
What figures do ANJL and IBJR use to support their position?
ANJL and IBJR cite that the Ministry of Finance reported 31 million active users on legal platforms before the MP. Additionally, monitoring by Legitbet identified 6,401 new illegal sites between September 22 and 28 and 811 links to those platforms.
What economic risks does the industry alert to following the prohibition?
Consultancy LCA estimates that up to R$73,000,000,000 in revenue would be at risk between 2027 and 2030 if demand fully shifts to illegal operators. ANJL and IBJR also point out the impact on sponsorships, planning, and investment predictability for clubs and companies.
What do ANJL and IBJR ask for as an alternative to the prohibition?
ANJL and IBJR advocate for maintaining a regulated market with clear rules and legal security, offering to negotiate measures such as deposit and time limits, stricter advertising regulations, mental health protocols, and enhanced action against illegal sites.
Tags
About the author
Renata Quiroga
Betting Markets Correspondent
Renata Quiroga covers sports betting and prediction markets — sportsbook launches, odds technology, event contracts, and the regulatory calls that decide what can be bet on and where. The reports open with the product or the ruling, name operators and platforms precisely, and explain the mechanics without needless jargon. When a book enters a Latin American market or a prediction exchange lists a contested contract, Renata Quiroga reports what changes for the bettor.
More from Renata Quiroga
