TITLE: Cuiabá Mayor Issues Decree Banning Sports Betting Advertising in Public Spaces
BODY:
On July 16, 2026, Abílio Brunini, mayor of Cuiabá, announced that it will issue a municipal decree prohibiting the advertising of sports betting platforms in public spaces and areas of free circulation in the capital of Mato Grosso. The measure, modeled on a similar rule adopted by Rio de Janeiro City Hall, requires review by the Municipal Attorney General's Office before the Executive branch publishes it. The decree will take effect only after the legal opinion is completed.
The proposed ban covers billboards, panels, and other advertising forms in public spaces, urban equipment, and areas with free public access. The prohibition extends to events held with City Hall authorization and to advertising contracts involving municipal public property. The restriction encompasses trademarks, logos, symbols, images, email addresses, and other visual identification elements of betting sites, as well as promotional campaigns, bonus announcements, prizes, and incentives related to betting. However, the decree does not regulate or prohibit the operation of betting platforms themselves, which falls under Federal Government responsibility. The measure aligns with Federal Law No. 14,790/2023, which requires betting advertising to target adult audiences and prohibits children and adolescents as target audiences.
The announcement fulfills a proposal filed with the City Council on July 14, 2026, by councilman Rafael Ranalli (PL), registered under number 31.141/2026. The proposal clarifies that the municipality's authority extends only to regulating advertising in spaces under municipal administration, authorization, or supervision, not to private locations that charge admission. Once the Municipal Attorney General's Office completes its legal review, the decree will be published and implemented.