TITLE: Brazil's Ministry of Finance Mandates Risk Warnings on Betting Advertisements Starting July 17
BODY:
On July 10, 2026, Brazil's Prizes and Betting Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance published Ordinance SPA/MF No. 1.964 in an extra edition of the Official Gazette of the Union. The ordinance establishes mandatory risk warnings that fixed-odds betting operators must include in all advertising, marketing, and promotional materials across all communication channels, including digital environments.
Under the new regulation, all advertising materials from betting operators must display one of three mandatory warning phrases: "Ministry of Finance warns: Gambling can cause addiction", "Ministry of Finance warns: Gambling makes you lose money", or "Ministry of Finance warns: Gambling is not an investment". The warnings must appear horizontally in a clear and legible manner, with a minimum size equivalent to 10 percent of the length or size of the advertisement, proportional to the rest of the communication piece. This requirement modifies item II of article 13 of Ordinance SPA/MF No. 1.231, issued on July 31, 2024, which previously regulated responsible gambling and communication practices in the sector.
The ordinance also repeals paragraph 4 of article 42 of Ordinance SPA/MF No. 1.231, which required operators to comply with Law No. 5.768 of December 20, 1971, regarding the free distribution of prizes through raffles, gift vouchers, or contests for advertising purposes. This repeal took effect on July 10, 2026.
The new advertising requirements will take effect on July 17, 2026, and apply to all fixed-odds betting operators conducting business in Brazil.