Brazil Football Clubs Face Massive Sponsorship Blow From Betting Ban
The measure could affect 14 of the 20 top-flight clubs, with betting deals accounting for 34% of commercial revenue, Galapagos Capital said.
- On Friday, President Luiz Inacio Lula signed a provisional measure banning online betting companies, dubbing the industry a "cancer" and leaving multi-million dollar sponsorship deals in limbo.
- Fourteen of the 20 clubs in the Brasileirao rely on betting companies as their main sponsor, with that revenue accounting for 34 percent of commercial income in 2025, or around $200 million, according to investment firm Galapagos Capital.
- Flamengo, the reigning Libertadores and Brasileirao champion, holds South American football's largest sponsorship deal with Betano at $46 million; betting revenue has "propelled Brazilian football to the point of dominating" Copa Libertadores competitions.
- Betting industry associations asked the Supreme Court on Monday to suspend the measure, alleging it is unconstitutional; Fabiana Bentes of Sou do Esporte warned that "An indebted company, a company without legal certainty that cannot honor its commitments, suffers a devaluation."
- The Senate has 120 days to decide whether to codify the measure, while betting adverts must be removed after October 5; Lula, facing a tight election race against right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro, vowed to end the industry.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Earthquake in Brazilian football after government decision as in 2025 alone, first division teams received approximately $200 million advertising betting companies
Brazilian soccer teams cry foul at Lula's online betting ban
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Brazil Football Clubs Face $200 Million Hit From Lula’s Betting Ban
Brazil’s professional football clubs are crying foul over the government’s move to outlaw online betting just before the presidential election, saying it puts millions of dollars in advertising sales at risk.
A severe crisis faced by major Brazilian clubs after the banning of private betting companies, which were among the most important sources of Brazilian adult nationals.
Radio France Internationale
Brazil football clubs face massive sponsorship blow from betting ban
Flush with cash from their betting sponsors, Brazilian clubs have in recent years dominated their South American rivals, winning the last seven Copa Libertadores titles. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who on Sunday is facing a tight election race against right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro on Friday signed a provisional measure banning online betting companies, dubbing the industry a "cancer." This is what is at stake: How much do clubs ra…
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