TLDR Licensed betting companies used ad boards at two Brasileirão Serie A games to protest Brazil’s new ban on regulated betting. The protest targets Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026, issued by President Lula on September 25. The boards showed messages like “Banning is not protecting” and “Banning does not end betting.” Industry groups ANJL and IBJR warn the ban could hurt clubs and sponsors and push bettors to illegal sites. The groups want stricter rules, such as tighter deposit limits and ad rules, instead of a full ban.
Licensed betting companies in Brazil used two top-flight football matches this week to protest a new government ban on regulated betting.
The messages appeared on advertising boards during Brasileirão Serie A games. São Paulo played Santos on October 2, and Atlético-MG faced Red Bull Bragantino on October 3. Both were postponed matches from the league’s 21st round.
The campaign was organized by companies linked to the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR).
What the Ban Says
The protest targets Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued the measure on September 25.
The measure bans the regulated betting market in Brazil. It is now moving through the country’s political and legal process.
The boards showed three messages: “Banning is not protecting,” “Banning does not end betting,” and “It ends the protection of those who bet.” These lines came from a manifesto ANJL and IBJR released soon after the ban was announced.
Industry Groups Warn of Effects on Football
ANJL and IBJR say the ban will affect more than bettors. They say clubs, sponsors and others in the sports economy will also feel the impact.
According to the groups, current sponsorship deals and long-term investment plans were built around