TITLE: Aracaju Bans Fixed-Odds Betting Platform Advertising in Public Spaces
BODY:
On July 16, 2026, Aracaju City Hall published Decree No. 8,740, which prohibits advertising for fixed-odds betting platforms in public spaces and media subject to municipal administrative authority. Mayor Emília Correia announced the measure on the social media program "Café com Emília" before formalizing it the same day. Aracaju becomes the first capital city in Brazil's Northeast region to adopt such a restriction, following Rio de Janeiro City Hall's similar ban through Decree Rio No. 58,274/2026.
The decree applies to public and private property requiring municipal authorization, including billboards, advertising panels, street furniture, public equipment, and other regulated spaces. The prohibition extends beyond traditional advertisements to encompass all forms of advertising, publicity, commercial promotion, sponsorship, marketing communication, and institutional dissemination. Any identification of betting platforms through trademarks, applications, operators, websites, domains, logos, visual elements, or associated signs is prohibited, regardless of the medium or dissemination method used.
The Municipal Urban Services Company (EMSURB) will oversee compliance, with responsibilities including denying incompatible licensing requests, ordering removal of irregular advertising, and applying administrative measures under municipal legislation. All municipal public administration bodies must observe the requirements when entering into, renewing, or revising contracts, agreements, permits, concessions, and authorizations involving advertising. Although the decree is immediately applicable, the municipality has suspended fine enforcement for up to ten days to allow advertisers time to remove existing advertisements. Aracaju's decision cites protection of children and adolescents, preservation of vulnerable populations, urban planning, and reduction of social impacts from betting campaign exposure as key objectives, referencing Federal Law No. 14,790/2023, which regulates fixed-odds betting in Brazil.