Main Flamengo sponsor Betano breaks silence on possible Brazil betting ban | OneFootball

Master sponsor’s statement comes amid discussion over banning betting companies in Brazil

Betano has spoken out about the risk of betting companies being banned in Brazil. Flamengo’s master sponsor responded to questions about the issue, which has been making headlines in recent days.

“Betano is following the current discussion in the country with great concern and will make decisions at the appropriate time,” Betano told Lance!.

WHAT IS AT STAKE IN THE CONTRACT BETWEEN FLAMENGO AND BETANO?

The agreement between Flamengo and Betano was signed last year. The contract provides for fixed revenue of R$ 268 million per season, initially running through the end of 2028. In addition, the deal became the biggest sponsorship in the history of Brazilian football.

Betano has already informally warned the club about the possibility of terminating the partnership. So far, however, there has been no official notice to that effect. Therefore, the financial risk for Flamengo is considerable.

Estimates point to a loss of up to 20% of sponsorship revenue, combining Betano and the possible departure of the sportswear brand. Even so, the club is already sounding out other companies to potentially replace the master sponsor.

WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT DISCUSSING BANNING BETS?

The debate gained momentum after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signaled the end of betting companies in the country. According to the press, the government is preparing a provisional measure to restrict advertising by betting companies, including in sports sponsorships.

The final text, however, has not yet been presented. Even so, clubs and federations are arranging a meeting with Lula to discuss the matter, as they fear losing significant investment in national football.

However, the proposal targets at least part of betting companies’ operations. This includes online casino games, which currently account for a significant share of these companies’ revenue.

HAVE THE CLUBS UNITED AGAINST THE POSSIBLE RESTRICTION?

Last week, the country’s main clubs released a joint statement on the issue. In it, the teams warned of a possible “end of Brazilian football” if the government moves forward with the measure. Therefore, the document reinforces the financial weight of betting companies in Brazilian football.

HOW DID THE FANS REACT TO THE STATEMENT?

The reaction on social media, however, did not follow the teams’ position. A survey by consultancy Bites, commissioned by O Globo, showed that most comments about the statement were negative.

Thus, the survey analyzed posts from 6 clubs: Corinthians, Flamengo, Palmeiras, Santos, São Paulo and Vasco. In Vasco’s case, more than 90% of the comments rejected the betting companies’ narrative. Flamengo’s posts, meanwhile, had an 86% rejection rate. Among the São Paulo clubs, finally, the negative percentage reached 85%.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.