Advertising spaces on the boards around the pitch will be made available during Friday and Saturday’s matches to display the message “Banning Is Not Protecting”
Licensed betting operators will stage a joint demonstration during Brazilian Championship matches to convey messages about the consequences of banning betting in the country. During Friday’s (2) and Saturday’s (3) matches, companies associated with the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) will make advertising spaces on the boards around the pitch available to display the messages.
The initiative comes in response to Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026, issued by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which bans licensed betting operators from the country, and refers to the manifesto released on September 25 under the slogan “Banning Is Not Protecting”, which argues that banning betting does not eliminate betting in the country, but rather eliminates protections for those who bet.
The boards will display the following messages:
- Banning is not protecting
- Banning does not eliminate betting
The messages will be displayed during the matches between São Paulo and Santos on Friday, and Atlético-MG and Bragantino on Saturday. The clubs are among the many parties affected by the federal government’s decision. The Provisional Measure affects not only existing agreements, but also planning for upcoming seasons, sponsorship negotiations and renewals, and the predictability of investments in sports.
“For ANJL and IBJR, maintaining a regulated environment, with clear rules and legal certainty, is essential for clubs, companies and other stakeholders across the sports ecosystem to plan their long-term investments,” said Plínio Lemos Jorge, president of ANJL.
Carlos Lima, president of IBJR, emphasizes that the discussion also involves the predictability of a market structured around authorizations granted by the State itself.
“For the organizations, any changes should take into account the effects on this ecosystem and preserve the legal certainty necessary for companies, clubs and other partners to plan investments and fulfill existing commitments,” Lima said.
About the Manifesto
Signed by ANJL and IBJR alongside licensed operators in Brazil, the manifesto argues that banning betting does not eliminate betting in the country, but rather eliminates protections for those who bet.
According to the Ministry of Finance, 31 million people were active on licensed platforms, and the vast majority bet recreationally and responsibly. Since the issuance of the Provisional Measure last Friday, the illegal market has taken over Brazil. The manifesto therefore reinforces the warning that betting should remain legal, for the benefit not only of those who bet, but of Brazilian society as a whole.
The document also warns about the growth of the underground market, which is exploited by organized crime to carry out digital scams targeting the most vulnerable members of the population. According to data from Legitbet, ANJL’s official monitoring platform, between September 22 and 28, 6,401 new illegal betting websites were confirmed, while 811 links to these platforms were identified across monitored channels.
Before the ban, the illegal market already accounted for 41% of betting volume in the country, and the organizations project that this figure could reach 100%. Consultancy LCA estimates that up to R$73 billion in tax revenue could be at risk between 2027 and 2030 if all demand migrates to illegal operators.
ANJL and IBJR reiterate their concern about household indebtedness and problem gambling. According to the organizations, a highly regulated market is best positioned to address these issues. For this reason, they state that they are available to discuss deposit and time limits, stricter advertising rules, mental health measures, and stronger efforts to combat illegal websites — measures that cannot be imposed on operators working clandestinely. In their view, banning betting does not protect bettors; it merely pushes them toward environments without oversight.
About ANJL
Launched in March 2023, the National Association of Games and Lotteries represents the interests of its members, the sector, and responsible and ethical gaming, always guided by the promotion of sports, betting security, and contributions to the country’s economic development. Its members include: 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 and Big Brazil Tecnologia e Loteria, EBAC, TaDa Gaming, BB Gaming Legitimuz Tecnologia and JogaJunto.
About IBJR
The Brazilian Institute of 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 while consistently advocating for a regulated market.
The organization’s work is based on two essential pillars: combating the illegal market and promoting responsible gaming. We believe that effective regulation is fundamental to driving the sector forward, strengthening the economy, and ensuring security for both bettors and operators. For this reason, we actively work to combat illegal betting operators, which operate outside the law, harm the industry, and put society as a whole at risk.
IBJR’s members include the following operators: 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), as well as its associates: Better Collective, Clever Advertising, OKTO and ÚNICO.