São Paulo City Council is reviewing a bill that would ban betting and online casino advertising in public spaces. Operators spent R$422 million ($82.7 million) on outdoor advertising in the city between January 2025 and June 2026, ranking sixth among 184 advertising categories tracked by Monitor Evolution (Kantar Ibope Media).
Municipal authorities are combining three bills (553/2025, 560/2025 and 564/2025) into a single document. The ban would cover sports arenas, buses and bus stops, elevators, metro stations, bus terminals and digital street clocks. Violations carry a R$50 fine. Repeat offences could lead to licence suspension for up to 30 days and a ban on hosting sporting events in the city for up to two years. Revenue raised would go toward gambling addiction prevention and educational sport development. Mayor Ricardo Nunes said he would sign the law once approved by the council.
Rio de Janeiro has already taken a similar step: mayor Eduardo Cavalière imposed a ban by decree on 13 July. The surge in outdoor spending by betting companies followed the launch of federal regulation in January 2025. By spending volume, operators rank behind only telecoms, payment systems, alcohol and major retail.
The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has opposed the initiative. The organisation argues that restrictions will reduce investment in the legal market and hurt the supply chain, from street furniture concessionaires to production houses and agencies. ANJL also argues that advertising by licensed operators helps users distinguish legal platforms authorised by the Ministry of Finance from illegal ones.
