Brazil: Belo Horizonte pushes forward bills to curb online gambling ads and sponsorships

Belo Horizonte is taking new steps to limit the visibility of betting companies. The City Council has given first-round approval to two separate bills that, if enacted, will restrict how online gambling platforms advertise and interact with the public across the capital of Minas Gerais.

The proposals, Bills 297/2025 and 362/2025, outline a series of curbs on gambling promotion, sponsorships, and access to betting platforms in commercial spaces. Both measures will return to committees for amendments before a final vote that requires the backing of at least 21 council members. Once approved, the texts will be forwarded to Mayor Álvaro Damião for approval or veto.

Bill 297/2025, authored by Councilor Pedro Rousseff (PT), seeks to limit betting advertisements, including those connected to election outcomes. It further blocks betting companies from sponsoring sporting, cultural, civic, or educational events, while banning indirect promotions on social media and the pre-installation of betting apps on electronic devices.

The set of proposals seeks "to reduce stimuli for compulsive behavior, promoting collective well-being and limiting advertising practices that induce addiction,” Rousseff said.

The measure exempts lottery games and raffles conducted by public institutions, as well as private betting activities already permitted under federal legislation.

Bill 362/2025, advanced by Councilor Wagner Ferreira (PV) with the support of eight colleagues, proposes a wider prohibition. In addition to prohibiting any form of online betting advertising in the municipality, it would outlaw the distribution of gifts, and coupons; prevent raffles, tournaments, and public events linked to betting brands; and bar the placement of kiosks or other digital terminals that provide access to online betting within businesses in the city.

During debate, government leader Bruno Miranda (PDT) urged council members to ensure the measure aligns with constitutional standards and said the goal was to “create a law that is viable from a constitutional point of view and that has an effect on the lives of the citizens of Belo Horizonte.”

Both bills received strong backing during the initial vote, with Rousseff’s proposal securing 34 votes in favor. The two initiatives are being discussed jointly due to their overlapping objectives in restricting betting-related publicity and access.

Alongside these restrictions, the City Council is also reviewing a separate initiative to establish a Municipal Policy for Mental Health Care for People with Disorders Associated with Gambling Addiction. The plan calls for public education campaigns about the risks of gambling and guarantees specialized treatment through the city’s Psychosocial Care Network, including the Mental Health Reference Centers (Cersam).