Bill PL 706-2025 Brazil proposes up to eight-year prison sentence for illegal gambling ads
A new bill introduced in Brazil’s Congress seeks to criminalize the advertisement of illegal gambling, imposing prison sentences of up to eight years for offenders targeting children and other vulnerable individuals.
Federal deputy Kim Kataguiri introduced Bill PL 706-2025, which aims to amend Brazil’s 1940 Penal Code by classifying the promotion of illegal betting as a criminal offense. Under the proposal, those found guilty could face a prison term ranging from one to four years, along with fines.
However, penalties would double—potentially reaching eight years in prison—if offenders are found to:
• Advertise illegal gambling to children and adolescents,
• Target financially vulnerable individuals using specific marketing techniques,
• Use their influence as digital personalities or public figures to promote unlicensed betting,
• Profit or receive commissions from illegal gambling companies.
“The regulation of gambling has been a recurring theme in Brazil, but the proliferation of illegal and unauthorized betting platforms poses serious risks to society,” Kataguiri said in a statement. “This proposal is essential to curb the dissemination and incentive of activities that harm consumers, encourage money laundering, and exploit social vulnerabilities.”
Gambling advertising has become a contentious issue in Brazil since the country launched its regulated betting market on January 1. Over the last year, authorities have tightened restrictions, with the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) implementing new regulations in December 2024.
The SPA’s measures include an immediate ban on gambling ads targeting minors and marketing that employs imagery or elements appealing to children. The move followed high-profile cases of social media influencers promoting unauthorized betting games, such as the Asian-themed slot Fortune Tiger, which resulted in significant financial losses for their followers.
Despite increasing regulations, authorities continue to grapple with illegal gambling operations. The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) acknowledged difficulties in blocking unlicensed betting sites flagged by the SPA.
Regis Dudena, head of the SPA, expressed confidence in the regulatory framework’s long-term impact. “What we believe is that, over time, operating illegally will become less and less viable, both due to the regulator’s actions and the market’s adjustments,” he told EXAME on January 3.
https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/03/07/97411-brazil-proposes-up-to-eightyear-prison-sentence-for-illegal-gambling-ads