Manifesto by Legalized Betting Associations Against the Ban Returns to the Brasileirão
An initiative by the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) and the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) will feature signage on the field and on the jerseys of teams such as São Paulo FC and Flamengo
Brazil.- October 20, 2026 www.zonadeazar.com The “Banning Is Not Protecting” campaign, led by the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) and the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), will return to the field this weekend during the 31st round of the Brazilian Championship.
The campaign on the field signs returns in 10 games starting Friday (16), in a new format. In addition to the “Banning Is Not Protecting” campaign, the signs will display messages about the “I Bet You Didn’t Know” campaign (www.apostoquevocenaosabia.com), which provides clear and verified information about the betting market in Brazil. Among the phrases displayed are: “True protection starts with rules”; “Brazil banned it, and the illegal market took over”; and “Regulating is protecting.”
“We’re bringing this message to the stadiums because the public needs to know what’s at stake. The ban didn’t make the demand for betting disappear. The ban created space for the illegal market, stripped bettors of protections, and weakened mechanisms for monitoring and combating the manipulation of sports results. Protecting consumers and the integrity of sports requires rules, oversight, and combating illegal activities. It is this debate that we want to broaden through the campaign,” says Carlos Lima, CEO of IBJR.
“Brasileirão games have high visibility and wide reach. That is why, once again, we are spreading our message about the consequences of the abrupt and unjustified elimination of the regulated market. The main consequence is the lack of protection for bettors, who remain at risk from more than 30,000 illegal betting sites active in the country,” said Plínio Lemos Jorge, president of ANJL.
This weekend’s matches will also feature messages on the players’ jerseys. This Saturday (the 17th), São Paulo players will wear jerseys bearing the message “Banning is not protecting” during their match against Vasco da Gama at 9 p.m. at Morumbi Stadium. On Sunday (the 18th), it will be Flamengo’s turn to display the protest on their uniforms during their game against Bahia. These initiatives are part of a national mobilization by organizations representing legal betting operators.
The goal of the initiative is to show fans and the general public the impacts of Provisional Measure 1,394/2026. In addition to the potential effects on investments in clubs and competitions, the campaign addresses mechanisms to protect bettors, revenue allocated to public policies, and the risks associated with the expansion of the illegal market.
About the manifesto
Signed by the IBJR and the ANJL, the manifesto argues that the ban does not eliminate betting in the country, but it does eliminate protections for bettors.
The document also warns of the growth of the underground market, which is exploited by organized crime to launder money, target minors, and carry out digital scams against the most vulnerable segments of the population.
The IBJR and ANJL reiterate their concern regarding household debt and compulsive gambling. In their view, only a highly regulated market is best equipped to address the problem. For this reason, the organizations remain open to engaging in democratic dialogue with the National Congress and civil society as a whole to discuss potential measures to further improve the regulatory framework—with due attention to mental health and greater rigor in combating illegal websites—measures that cannot be demanded of those operating clandestinely. In their view, a ban does not protect bettors; it merely pushes them into unregulated environments.
Edited by @pererarte www.zonadeazar.com
