Artists launch campaign against bets; regulated sector fires back and argues that the fight should target the illegal market, not licensed operators.
Brazil is going through a decisive moment in the regulation of online betting. On one side, artists have united against the constant presence of bets.
On the other, the regulated sector, backed by the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), argues that the widespread criticism threatens a market that began organizing itself under federal laws.
The conflict puts at risk the future of the sector’s advertising and the effects of the regulation launched in 2024.
The artists’ mobilization
Launched on June 2, 2026, the movement “Block no Tigrinho” [“Block the Little Tiger”], led by Paula Lavigne and Caetano Veloso, grew quickly, bringing together several artists, including Anitta, Chico Buarque, Gilberto Gil, Djavan, and Marieta Severo.
The campaign by 342artes, which is gaining traction on social media, states that the “Tigrinho” and similar platforms promise easy wealth but cause debt and public health problems.
The Washington Post reported on the international repercussions of Caetano’s statement, which added weight to the denunciation, which treats the problem as a social crisis without separating the legal market from the illegal one.
Paula Lavigne has been talking with lawmakers to advance projects like “Brasil Contra as Bets” [“Brazil Against Bets”], which propose banning all advertising and sponsorship by the sector.
These tougher rules are the result of growing social pressure, which, through organized movements, has called for greater control over the everyday exposure of betting. This pressure has already resulted in the ban on betting advertising in public spaces.
The regulated sector’s response
The IBJR responded to the campaign, stating that the “predatory gambling” the artists are fighting against is growing in the underground market, which has no oversight whatsoever.
The institute points out that licensed operators (.bet.br) follow strict rules, such as the ban on credit card payments and the requirement for facial recognition.
According to the institute, overly restricting legal advertising could weaken regulated companies and push consumers toward illegal sites. So far, the 342 Artes collective has not commented on the IBJR’s response.
Amid this climate of legal uncertainty, the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) also commented on the municipal decrees in Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte.
In a statement, ABRAJOGO, the Brazilian Association of International Game Operators and Providers, acknowledged the progress made by the Federal Government’s new advertising rules, in effect since July 17, which require three warnings from the Ministry of Finance in betting ads.
The organization argues, however, that the rule’s text needs more clarity on points such as the ban on “calls to action” and the distinction between disguised advertising and journalistic content or sports commentary, warning of the risk of creating legal uncertainty for media professionals.
ABRAJOGO also advocates for prior verification rules across the entire advertising chain, including influencers and affiliates.
The numbers don’t add up
The regulated sector, citing studies by LCA Consultoria and Instituto Locomotiva, says the illegal market moves around R$ 40 billion per year, a major loss for public coffers. The regulated market, in turn, paid R$ 9.95 billion in taxes in 2025 alone.
“Block no Tigrinho,” on the other hand, cites 1.8 million indebted Brazilians and R$ 143 billion drained from retail between 2023 and 2026, a figure the IBJR disputes.
While the IBJR tries to separate what is legal from what is criminal, the artists say the scale of the problem justifies fighting all bets, without distinction.
What’s at stake
The discussion hinges on three bills: PL 3.563/2024, in the Senate, authored by Randolfe Rodrigues, and the “Brasil Contra as Bets” package, made up of PL 2478/2026 (Chamber of Deputies) and PL 2470/2026 (Senate).
For the B2B audience, the central question is whether the new laws will be able to separate legitimate operations from predatory ones.
If a total ban is passed, clubs, events, and influencers will lose a billion-dollar revenue source (in 2025, betting companies’ media investment reached R$ 1.4 billion).
While IBJR advocates for technical debate, the artists say social urgency calls for harsher action. The outcome of this dispute will shape the future of the betting industry in Brazil.