Brazil Sports Commission Raises Concerns Over Ad Regulations
The Brazil Sports Commission (CEsp) expressed concerns about existing betting advertising regulations during a hearing on two proposed bills that aim to impose further marketing restrictions.
On April 9, CEsp met to discuss two new bills (PL 2,985/2023 and PL 3,405/2023), introduced in response to concerns the current regulations issued by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) may not adequately protect consumers.
PL 2,985/2023 would implement a ban across all channels and mediums, while PL 3,405/2023 doesn’t go quite as far, instead prohibiting advertising featuring athletes, celebrities, influencers and sports teams.
In the meeting, Sen. Carlos Portinho claimed current regulations were delivering “little results” in preventing “predatory advertising,” stating the situation is getting worse.
Colombia Sees 30 Percent Decline in Online GGR After VAT
The Colombian Federation of Gambling Entrepreneurs (Fecoljuegos) has reported a 30 percent decrease in online gross gaming revenue (GGR) in Colombia since the new value-added tax (VAT) on the industry came into effect.
In February, Colombia introduced a 19 percent VAT on online betting deposits, a decision Fecoljuegos condemned as “unsustainable and unfeasible” for the gambling sector in the country.
Nearly two months have now passed since the tax came in, and Fecoljuegos has warned it’s already having an impact, with online revenue dropping by nearly a third over that time.
Evert Montero, president of Fecoljuegos, told Portafolio: “If the tax policy continues, the financial capacity of operators will be severely affected, compromising formal operations and resources allocated to health.”
ANJL Criticizes Financial Association Director’s Anti-Betting Remarks
The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has strongly condemned what it called “disrespectful” anti-betting remarks made by the director of the Brazilian Association of Financial and Capital Market Entities (Anbima).
The ANJL’s response follows an article published in the Brazilian newspaper Valor Econômico last week, which was written by Aquiles Mosca, CEO of BNP Paribas in Brazil and director of Anbima.
The article, titled “Bets: The bookmaker who lives in your pocket will make you unhappy,” criticized the Brazil gambling sector, listing the potential consequences of betting addiction, including bankruptcy and suicide.
The ANJL responded in a letter alongside other gambling bodies, such as the Brazilian Gaming Association (Abrajogo), saying: “His words disregard the institutional, regulatory and economic advances promoted by the legal framework that governs betting in Brazil.”
Buenos Aires Lottery Launches Workshops to Prevent Underage Addiction
The Buenos Aires City Lottery (LOTBA) has launched a series of workshops aiming to prevent addiction to online gambling among minors.
In a press release on April 8, LOTBA claimed the objective of the workshops is to raise awareness of the risks related to betting online.
The workshops will be conducted in partnership with the Buenos Aires City Council, with specialists from LOTBA and the Council’s Justice and Education Department.
“Working with young people on awareness, training, and development reinforces LOTBA’s commitment to promoting responsible gaming, combating illegal gambling, and the dangers associated with underage gambling,” LOTBA said.
Central Bank Chief Calls for Expanded Powers on Illegal Betting
Gabriel Galípolo, president of the Central Bank of Brazil, informed the parliamentary inquiry commission (CPI) on betting this week that the bank lacks the authority to block illegal sites.
In a betting CPI meeting on April 8, senators quizzed Galípolo over how much power the Central Bank had to act against payment institutions accepting illegal betting transactions.
Galípolo responded by stating the responsibility for monitoring and sanctioning the betting sector lies entirely with the SPA, also calling for the Central Bank to be given more authority in this area.
He explained once the SPA informs the Central Bank of an illegal operator, it can only notify a financial institution to cease providing services to the gambling company in question. The Central Bank cannot intervene in transactions, as only the financial institution has that authority.
