Nine Brazilian gambling entities unite against the ban on betting and warn of the advance of the illegal market
The manifesto "We bet on Brazil" calls for legal certainty, employment protection and more control over illegal operators.
Nine organizations of the gaming industry in Brazil have signed a joint manifesto to defend the regulated betting market and warn of the consequences of an eventual prohibition or abrupt dismantling. Under the slogan "Nós abetamos no Brasil" (We bet on Brazil), the entities ask the National Congress and the Executive Branch for serenity, dialogue and institutional responsibility.
The document recalls that, after the approval of Law 14,790/2023, companies settled in the country, paid for their authorizations, invested in technology and regulatory compliance, hired professionals and began to pay taxes under state supervision. "They did not bet on improvisation. They bet on the rules of Brazil," the signatories stress.
The main warning refers to the protection of players. The organizations argue that banning the activity would not eliminate demand, but would move it to illegal pages outside the controls of the authorized market. They point out, among other risks, the absence of mechanisms for identification, self-exclusion and protection of people with gambling problems, as well as greater exposure of minors.
The manifesto also warns of the loss of tax revenues and planned transfers for sport, public safety, health and social security. To this it adds the employment impact that, according to the signatories, a closure of the market would have, with layoffs and effects on suppliers and activities linked to technology, advertising, tourism, sport and means of payment.
Legal certainty is at the heart of the statement. The banks warn that revoking authorisations granted by the state itself could lead to litigation and compensation claims, as well as sending a signal of uncertainty to investors in other sectors about the stability of the rules after they make their investments.
The organisations recognise that there are challenges and propose responding with stricter publicity, greater protection of vulnerable people, effective supervision and strong action against illegal operators. Their position is summed up in one sentence: "To regulate is to control. To prohibit is to lose control".
The call incorporates an express request for the debate to be supported by evidence. "The issue requires evidence, not an electoral dispute," states the text, which offers the collaboration of the entities to build solutions with the institutions.
The manifesto is signed by ABC-Bet, the Brazilian Association of Conformity, Good Practices, Ethics and Transparency in Sports Betting; ABFS, the Brazilian Association of Fantasy Sports; ABRAJOGO, the Brazilian Association of International Game Operators and Providers; AIGAMING, the International Gaming Association; and AMIG, the Association of Women in the Gaming Industry.
The list is completed by ANJL, the National Association of Games and Lotteries; IBJR, the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming; IJL, the Brazilian Institute of Legal Gaming; and SINDIBETS, the Union of Sports Betting and Online Gaming Operating Companies of the State of São Paulo.
