Santos and Brazilian clubs oppose proposed online casino ban, defend regulated betting | OneFootball

Santos have joined fellow Brazilian clubs in a joint statement defending the regulated sports betting market and opposing a proposed federal ban on online casino games, warning of financial damage to football.

The discussion centres on a provisional measure that would keep sports betting legal but remove virtual games from the fixed-odds framework under Law 14.790/2023.

Licensed operators are now a key income source across the pyramid, with emphasis on tougher enforcement and bettor safeguards rather than prohibition.

Signatories included the Federação Paulista de Futebol with Santos, Palmeiras and São Paulo, the Rio de Janeiro federation with Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco, plus Cruzeiro.

The draft has been approved internally and could be published by next Tuesday, though some in government want President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to target only certain games such as Fortune Tiger, known locally as Jogo do Tigrinho.

A ban would risk driving users to unregulated sites and cutting investment, with sponsorships to Série A clubs estimated at more than R$ 1 billion a year.

Santos are directly exposed. Novibet currently pay about R$ 35 million a year, after a 2025 master deal with 7KBet worth R$ 51 million ended when the company used a break clause citing contractual issues.

Separately, a São Paulo City Council bill aims to restrict betting advertising in the city.

Source: Diario Do Peixe

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”