TLDR Belo Horizonte signed Decree No. 19,654 on July 13, 2026, restricting betting ads on public property. The rule bans betting promotions on municipal furniture, screens, billboards, and city-sponsored events. Betting ads must stay at least 100 meters from schools, museums, and youth institutions. Rio de Janeiro passed a similar ban the same day through Decree No. 58,274/2026. Brazil’s federal government and Congress are also reviewing wider betting ad restrictions nationwide.
Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, has placed new limits on betting advertising across the city. The rule came from Decree No. 19,654, signed by Mayor Álvaro Damião.
It took effect on July 13, 2026. The decree updates an older law that governs the city’s advertising code.
The new rule blocks betting ads from appearing on public property. This includes municipal furniture, billboards, digital screens, and other display formats.
What the New Rule Covers
The ban applies to any advertising space tied to city contracts, permits, or concessions. That means private companies managing public infrastructure also cannot host betting ads.
Betting promotions are also barred from events organized or funded by the city government. This closes another common outlet operators used to reach the public.
The decree gives city agencies 15 working days to review current contracts. Officials must find and remove any ads that break the new rule during that window.
Distance Rules Near Schools
The decree also sets a distance limit for betting ads. They cannot be placed within 100 meters of schools, museums, or other places built for children and teens.
City officials say the goal is to reduce how often minors see betting advertising in daily life. The rule targets both physical and digital ad formats near these locations.
The decree took effect right away. Local agencies must now adjust any