BH Chamber approves project that prohibits Bets advertising

THE Belo Horizonte City Council approved, in the 1st round, this Thursday (6), two bills that prohibit advertising from companies that operate online betting, known as bets. The proposals, of numbers 297/2025 and 362/2025are authored by councilors Pedro Rousseff (PT) and Wagner Ferreira (PV), with the support of seven other parliamentarians.

The projects are being processed together due to the similarity of their content and provide for a series of restrictions on companies in the virtual betting sector. The vote recorded 32 votes in favor and six abstentions. With approval in the 1st round, the matters return to the committees for analysis of amendments before the final vote.

If approved again by the majority of the 21 councilors, the proposals will be sanctioned or vetoed by Mayor Álvaro Damião (PSD).

What the projects propose

PL 297/2025 prohibits the sponsorship of sporting, cultural, civic and educational events by betting companies, in addition to restricting indirect advertising actions on social networks and the pre-installation of betting applications on electronic devices. The rules do not apply to lottery games, draws carried out by public bodies or private betting companies duly authorized by federal law.

PL 362/2025 expands restrictions by prohibiting any form of online betting advertising in the municipality. The text also prohibits the distribution of gifts and coupons, the holding of draws, the promotion of events and championships and the installation of totems or other equipment that allows access to bets in commercial establishments.

Debate on the topic

Councilor Wagner Ferreira, author of PL 362/2025, defended the matter and stated that Belo Horizonte can be a pioneer in creating more robust legislation on the topic.

“In BH, we can create a mechanism that is perhaps unprecedented and perhaps an example for all capitals and even for the National Congress, which has been omitted, preventing this discussion, while several Brazilians have suffered losses”, said Wagner Ferreira.

The government leader, Bruno Miranda (PDT), recognized the relevance of the proposal, but defended legal adjustments before the final vote, to “create a viable law from a constitutional point of view and that has an effect on the lives of citizens of BH”, he said.