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Brazilian football federations and clubs have jointly released a statement in opposition to the possibility of federal measures that may ban or extremely limit sports betting and online gaming. The Manifesto, which was released on September 17 under the name “The End of Brazilian Football”, states that a sudden pause in the regulated betting market may have financial repercussions for clubs.
The statement was supported by clubs and football organizations across Brazil, including Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, Vasco, São Paulo, Santos and Palmeiras, as well as the São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro football federations. The signatories acknowledged the social risks associated with betting, particularly for vulnerable groups, but called for stronger enforcement, prevention and consumer-protection measures rather than ending the regulated market.
Clubs Highlight Dependence on Betting Revenue
In recent years, the football organisations insist that when the thing of legalized betting business, it has turned into an important source of income for Brazilian football. This investment isn’t limited to the top-tier clubs, but also goes to smaller teams, lower divisions and less commercially visible competitions, the manifesto says.
Betting revenue funds administrative structures, training centres, social projects, women’s football and youth development, the statement says. It also reflects the possibility of a sudden change in the regulation impacting on current sponsorship contracts and finance planning arrangements arising from Brazil’s current law.
“Abruptly changing the rules would reduce clubs’ investment capacity and create imbalances inside and outside the country,” the document states. It adds that “regularly signed contracts, multi-year planning and financial commitments were established under a regulatory framework created by the State itself.”
Sector Defends Regulation Over Prohibition
The manifesto states that Brazil will adopt regulation as a means to tackle an existing betting market operating beyond the formal economy. As now, authorized operators are taxed and regulated in terms of consumer protection, age limits, prevention of abusive practices, anti-money-laundering and integrity in sports.
The football industry also states that the absence of regulation means consumers would be driven towards unofficial sites. “Making this model unviable will not make betting disappear. It will simply open the way for consumers to migrate entirely to clandestine platforms, which do not pay taxes, do not respect limits, do not offer protection mechanisms and do not cooperate with authorities.”
Clubs Call for Enforcement and Consumer Protection
The organisations agree that gambling can create social issues and that these issues must be constantly addressed by government, industry and other stakeholders. They suggest that they should enhance monitoring, prevention, education and consumer protection measures and ensure a regulated market.
The manifesto also urges the involvement of the federal, state, and municipal governments in creating more effective education and awareness initiatives. The job is available as the federal government mulls restrictions, the details and extent of which remain to be discussed.
That ends with a stark warning about the repercussions for the sport: “The fan cannot pay this bill. If the regulated market ends, betting will not end. Football is what ends.”
Source: BNL Data
