Brazil's football clubs and sports organizations are raising alarms about the potential consequences of the country's newly proposed betting ban, with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) warning of a BRL420 million ($76.5 million) revenue loss by 2027. This figure pertains specifically to the loss of revenue from naming rights for competitions, such as the top-tier league sponsored by Betano and the second tier supported by Superbet.
The financial implications of this ban featured prominently during a public hearing at the Supreme Federal Court (STF) on Tuesday, as 34 entities voiced their concerns regarding Provisional Measure 1.394, which seeks to outlaw betting in Brazil.
According to Igor Mauler Santiago, a lawyer for the CBF, 27 out of the 40 clubs competing in the nation’s top two leagues currently have betting companies as their primary sponsors. These partnerships contribute a combined total of BRL1 billion, representing about 35% of the clubs' overall sponsorship revenue. Santiago emphasized that the impacts of the ban extend beyond just shirt sponsorships; they also affect television rights and other advertising avenues like pitchside boards.
"CBF trusts that the three branches of government will reach an appropriate and reasonable solution that balances health concerns, legal security, economic growth, and the development of sports," Santiago told the courts.
Individual clubs underscored their dependency on betting sponsorship revenue. Flamengo, for example, projected a loss of about BRL430 million annually due to its main sponsorship deal with Betano as well as its broadcasting rights. Flamengo's Vice President, Flávio de Araújo Willeman, explained that the club made sponsorship agreements based on the existing regulatory framework established by the government.
"It was on this basis that Flamengo entered into contracts with betting companies that displayed sponsorships on the jerseys," Willeman stated. "This framework informed Flamengo's financial planning for the years following these contracts."
He urged the government to address issues surrounding betting through regulation instead of outright prohibition. "If there are problems with betting, let’s not opt for the easiest route of complete repeal. Let us tackle the issues with effective regulation to minimize the adverse effects."
Fluminense’s president, Mattheus Reis e Montenegro, noted that betting sponsorships accounted for 34% of the club's revenue for 2025 and warned that smaller clubs in Rio de Janeiro might face a revenue drop of up to 50% due to their reliance on betting sponsorships and broadcasting income from the state championship known as the Campeonato Carioca. "The Provisional Measure directly impacts sponsorships and pitchside advertising, alongside broadcasting rights, eliminating key income sources for football," Montenegro remarked.
Botafogo characterized its agreement with Vbet, signed in November 2025, as the largest sponsorship deal in the club's history that also supports its youth academy and women's football. Club representative Bichara Abidão Neto suggested that the effects of the measure need urgent suspension.
Cruzeiro indicated its betting sponsorship equates to covering four to five payrolls. José Francisco Manssur, representing the club, stated, "The solution to addiction and debt problems resides in regulation and oversight, not outright prohibition."
Vitória disclosed that betting sponsorship and pitchside advertising contribute nearly 17% of its annual revenue totaling BRL290 million. São Paulo reported approximately BRL101 million from main sponsorship and advertising linked to betting from January to September, emphasizing that its primary sponsorship deal with Superbet extends until 2030.
The repercussions of the betting ban could extend beyond the football sector as well. The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) projected that transfers tied to betting would amount to BRL130 million in 2027, equating to about 20% of its budget. When other sporting organizations that rely on these funds are factored in, the overall estimate rises to BRL325 million.
COB representative Pedro Henrique Rebelo de Mendonça cautioned that diminished funding could necessitate the adjustment or cancellation of proposed projects. "Any revenue reduction leads to necessary adjustments or cancellations of planned projects," he stated. "Less funding for the COB means decreased resources for various sports confederations."
The Brazilian Paralympic Committee also stressed the significance of betting-related funds, stating they have been crucial to the growth of Paralympic sports and the inclusion of individuals with disabilities. President Mizael Conrado remarked that these funds have been vital to the sector’s development.
The National Federation of Professional Athletes (Fenapaf) warned that a loss of funding could spark unemployment and make athletes more susceptible to integrity threats in sports outcomes.
The clubs emphasized the importance of legal certainty, stating they had signed contracts and budgeted under a government-established framework after betting companies were authorized to operate. The hearing, led by Minister Luiz Fux, was part of the Supreme Court's examination of Provisional Measure 1.394, which is being challenged by ANJL, seeking to halt its effects. Fux is expected to outline the next steps in the case, but no decision regarding the future of the ban was announced during the hearing.
