Licensed operators in Brazil staged a protest through advertising boards at top-tier football matches. LED hoardings displayed slogans reading 'A ban is not protection' and 'A ban will not stop betting' during fixtures including São Paulo v Santos and Atlético Mineiro v Bragantino. The campaign was organised by members of ANJL and IBJR, the country's two main industry associations.
The protest targeted Provisional Measure 1,394, which banned online betting in Brazil from 25 September. Clubs are losing existing sponsorship contracts and the season planning cycle has collapsed. ANJL president Plínio Lemos Jorge says sponsors and clubs need legal certainty to commit long-term investment.
The illegal market surged after the ban took effect. Legitbet data shows 6,401 new illegal sites and 811 redirect links appeared between 22 and 28 September. The black market held 41% of betting volume before the ban; industry forecasts now put it at 100%. Consultancy LCA estimates the regulated sector will lose BRL73bn ($14bn) between 2027 and 2030 if all demand shifts underground.
Brazil's Finance Ministry counted 31 million active users on licensed platforms before the ban. IBJR president Carlos Lima argues regulated markets handle problem gambling better than prohibition. The associations say they are ready to discuss deposit limits, stricter advertising rules and blocking illegal sites, but call the ban a path to a grey zone with no player protection.
