Piracicaba prohibits betting advertising in public spaces and events; see details

Sports betting — Photo: Joédson Alves/Agência Brasil

The City of Piracicaba (SP) banned the advertising of fixed-odd betting platforms, known as "bets", in public spaces and events in the city. The ban was published in the Official Gazette and comes into force within 90 days.

In September, the federal government announced, just a few days before the first round of elections, a total ban on betting in the country. The ban also includes online games and virtual casinos, such as "Jogo do Tigrinho".

In Piracicaba, the placement of betting advertising is prohibited on goods, equipment, services and events linked to the municipality. See location details:

Assets: properties in the municipal public domain, whether built or not; or for common use by the people and urban furniture whose advertising use depends on a license, authorization, permission, concession or contract from the municipality;

Public transport: vehicles, terminals, points, shelters and other equipment that are part of the municipal public public transport service;

Municipal public equipment;

Events promoted or carried out by the municipal public administration.

According to the decree, the prohibition covers the use of name, brand, logo, symbol, electronic domain, application, promotional code, bonus, link and quick response code, among other elements that identify or promote the betting platform.

On the other hand, messages of an exclusively educational or preventive nature about the risks related to gaming and betting, as long as they do not promote the platform, remain permitted.

The new rules will be applied to contracts, permissions, concessions and authorizations signed, renewed or extended after the law comes into force.

Bets banned in the country

The ban on betting in the country was formalized in a Provisional Measure (MP) signed by President Lula.

🔎 Provisional measures are issued by the federal government and sent to the National Congress. To become laws they definitively need to be voted on within 120 days in the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate.

Lula also sent a bill to Congress that establishes penalties for anyone who explores, operates or publicizes so-called bets.

Bettors had until 11:59 pm on October 5th to voluntarily withdraw the money available on the platforms. For those who did not withdraw, the banks that operate for bets are making the refund until this Wednesday (14).

Sanctions for those who fail to comply with the determinations range from warnings to fines that can reach R$2 billion, in addition to partial or total suspension of activities, in the case of legal entities.

According to the draft proposal, exploring or operating so-called "fixed odds bets", by any means, will become a crime punishable by imprisonment for four to six years, in addition to a fine.

Rio de Janeiro is among the capitals that have banned betting advertising — Photo: AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES/BBC

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