New AtlasIntel/Bloomberg Survey Highlights Broad Support for Advertising Restrictions and Higher Taxes as Officials Mull Regulatory Options
The Brazilian government is evaluating a provisional measure that could impose major new restrictions on the country’s regulated betting market. This policy review coincides with a new survey from AtlasIntel and Bloomberg, which reveals that 75% of Brazilian adults support a ban on online betting.
Conducted between September 17–22 among 5,015 adults with a margin of error of +/- 1% at a 95% confidence level, the poll indicates a 6 percent rise in support for a ban and a 4 percent drop in opposition, with an additional 8% neutral. Furthermore, 59.9% of respondents feel the disadvantages of betting outweigh societal advantages, while 28.6% noted more disadvantages than advantages.
Beyond an outright ban, the survey highlights strong public backing for tighter operational restrictions: 79% support limitations on betting advertising, 84% believe betting companies should pay higher taxes, and 88% oppose viewing wagering as a secondary job or investment form. Regarding institutional responsibility for the growth of online betting, 36% pointed to Lula’s government, 25.4% to Bolsonaro’s, and 16.5% to Congress.
Three Regulatory Options Under Consideration
According to UOL columnist Daniela Lima, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration is weighing three potential pathways via a provisional measure:
- Advertising Restrictions: Increasing limits on the marketing and promotion of bets.
- Hybrid Limits and Casino Bans: Combining advertising restrictions with a total ban on online casino-style games.
- Total Online Betting Ban: Prohibiting online betting altogether.
While President Lula has expressed support for closing down betting operations, internal government discussions continue regarding the broader economic impact on licensed operators, football clubs, and affiliated businesses. Critics and analysts are also raising concerns over consumer protection, taxation, and the risk that bettors might migrate to unregulated illegal sites if legal frameworks are dismantled.
