Brazil Launches Programme to Educate Teenagers on Online Betting
Brazil.– 12 January 2026 – www.zonadeazar.com Piauí has launched a public-school programme designed to teach teenagers how to recognise risks linked to betting platforms and online gaming. As the Brazilian market matures, youth protection becomes a central pillar of public policy.
Overview
Brazil’s sports betting boom has transformed consumer behaviour, digital culture and advertising dynamics. Alongside commercial expansion, a parallel concern is gaining urgency: the exposure of minors to betting-related content, particularly via social media and sports entertainment.
To confront this, the Government of Piauí has initiated a proactive campaign that reframes the conversation. Instead of waiting for harmful outcomes, the programme focuses on equipping young people with critical skills before they reach legal betting age.
Details / Context
The initiative will run across state schools with support from educators, psychologists and youth counsellors. Its pillars include:
- Explaining what regulated betting means
- Demystifying “easy money” narratives that circulate online
- Identifying behavioural warning signs
- Engaging teachers and families
- Encouraging responsible decision-making and self-awareness
The programme integrates digital media literacy, a key competence in a country where young audiences are highly connected. Betting operators, sports influencers and content creators have redefined how teenagers consume sport. The initiative acknowledges this ecosystem rather than ignoring it.
Brazil’s federal regulatory rollout adds pressure. Operators must adopt age verification, responsible marketing practices and harm-prevention tools. Piauí’s approach complements these rules by providing social resilience where filters cannot reach.
Key Themes
Industry, regulators and communities now converge around questions that go beyond business:
- What does responsible gaming look like for under-18s?
- How can education counterbalance advertising exposure?
- How do families participate in prevention models?
- Can state programmes shape national strategy?
Future Outlook
The Piauí model may become a blueprint for Brazil. If it demonstrates reductions in illegal access, improved awareness and early identification of risk behaviour, other states could adopt similar frameworks.
Latin America’s evolving regulatory landscape suggests that youth protection will form part of the “second wave” of governance, following licences, taxation and compliance infrastructure.
Rather than positioning young people as passive consumers, the programme treats them as informed participants in a wider cultural conversation about sport, entertainment and autonomy.
🔗 Edited by: @_fonta www.zonadeazar.com