Survey Finds 60 Percent of Brazilians in Favor of Land-Based Gambling
The DataSenado Research Institute April 22 released a new survey which shows 60 percent of the respondents in Brazil support the legalization of land-based gambling. DataSenado operates under the Transparency Secretariat of the Federal Senate.
PL 2,234/2022 to legalize land-based gambling forms such as casinos, bingo and jogo do bicho was approved by the Justice and Citizenship Committee last year, and the Senate vote to give the final green light is expected soon.
Of those surveyed by DataSenado, 60 percent expressed support for the regulation and oversight of land-based gambling. In contrast, 34 percent opposed the proposals, and the remaining 6 percent either were unsure or chose not to respond.
Brazil Sports Commission Debates Projects to Restrict Gambling Ads
The Brazil Sports Commission (CEsp) has this week debated two proposals that aim to restrict gambling advertising in the country.
CEsp discussed PL 2,985/2023, which would introduce a ban on gambling ads across all channels, as well as PL 3,405/2023, which centers on the prohibition of ads involving athletes and celebrities.
Fernando Vieira, CEO of the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming, warned advertising plays an important role in helping bettors to understand what sites are legal.
“Informing and educating is protecting,” Vieira told the hearing in quotes shared by Games Magazine Brazil. “And only with this path of transparency will we be able to guarantee the full benefits of regulation.”
Police Chief Warns CPI of Influencers Driving Illegal Gambling
The police chief of Alagoas state in Brazil has informed the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) on betting that social media influencers are deceiving gamblers.
On April 22, Lucimério Barros Campos appeared before the Brazil betting CPI after leading an investigation known as “Operation Game Over,” which aimed to uncover malicious activity by online influencers involved in illegal betting.
Lucimério explained to the CPI how influencers receive bets from players, before passing the bets onto illegal operators. As influencers aren’t considered financial institutions, their assets cannot be frozen, allowing the transactions to go through without being blocked.
Lucimério said additional legislation is necessary in order to prevent influencers promising bettors large prizes, which aren’t actually possible to win.
Chilean Soccer Legend Vidal Launches New Betting Platform
Chilean soccer star Arturo Vidal has launched a new online sports betting and casino site named “Play with the King.”
Vidal, who has made 146 appearances for Chile’s national team, the fourth-most ever, announced the platform’s launch on Instagram.
Vidal will hold a raffle for users who register for “Play with the King,” including prizes such as cash.
The launch of the new site comes after the Chilean Public Prosecutor’s Office announced it wouldn’t pursue a lawsuit against online gambling houses in the country, which are currently illegal.
Brazil Sports Ministry Announces Expanded Legal Bet Menu
The Ministry of Sports in Brazil has released a new ordinance adding to the list of sports on which Brazilians can legally bet.
The Ministry of Sports published Ordinance No. 36 in the Official Gazette of the Union on April 23, outlining fixed-odds bets can now be placed on sports such as cricket, mixed martial arts and American football.
Additionally, Brazilians can now bet on esports events that have obtained a licence or authorisation from either the developer of the video games, or the holder of intellectual property rights for esports tournaments.
The developers of the games are banned from restricting betting to one single operator, while betting companies are also prohibited from demanding exclusivity.
