State of Rio de Janeiro looks to ban advertising
The Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) held a first discussion vote on Bill 3591/2024, which prohibits the advertising and sponsorship of sports betting companies conducted in the state.
The bill, authored by Deputy Rodrigo Amorim, has already been approved by the Committee on Constitution and Justice. However, the project faced resistance regarding the format of controlling advertisements, which is federally regulated. The debate intensified during discussions between opposition deputies and members of the governing base. The proposal, which initially received support for its merits, was ultimately withdrawn from the agenda after the presentation of seven amendments.
The bill could, could require the 20 clubs in the Brazilian Championship Series A, which starts on March 29, to change their uniforms for games held in Rio de Janeiro. According to Congressman Luiz Paulo, this would be one of the problems with the text.
“How can we control or prohibit this? Imagine a match between Flamengo and Corinthians at Maracanã. If Corinthians is sponsored by a betting company, how can we prevent them from playing? The same goes for a South American team. This legislation is national. That is why I presented an amendment to restrict it to state government sporting events,” he explained.
Deputy Rodrigo Amorim justifies the proposal based on “alarming statistics” regarding excessive betting in Brazil.
The text would prohibit sponsorship and advertising by betting companies for all sports activities in Rio. The ban covers advertising on uniforms, in arenas and sports equipment, as well as through radio, television, and internet broadcasts.
Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of athletes’ images for the commercialization of bets and the inclusion of promotional giveaways, toys, or collectible items associated with sports betting. Those who violate these restrictions will face penalties, including suspension of advertising and fines.
In his justification for the bill the lawmaker stated: “This bill aims to prohibit the advertising and sponsorship of betting websites and similar entities in sports events, given the current prevalence of such advertising in stadiums, which encourages addiction. One cannot ignore the recent scandals involving match-fixing, which represent a delicate moment for sports and can overshadow the integrity of competitions, going against the spirit of sportsmanship.”
