Belo Horizonte Delays Betting Ad Restriction Vote

A proposal aimed at restricting the promotion of betting brands in Belo Horizonte has been removed from the voting agenda after its sponsor acknowledged insufficient political backing to secure approval.

Councilor Pedro Rousseff requested the withdrawal of the measure during a plenary session on June 10, preventing a second-round vote that would have required at least 21 votes in favour. Although the proposal advanced during its first reading, further consideration has now been delayed until at least July.

Rousseff said additional discussions with members of the city council were necessary before the bill could return for consideration.

According to the councilor, support for the measure was not strong enough to guarantee approval at this stage, prompting the decision to postpone the vote and seek further dialogue with all 41 council members.

The delay marks the second interruption faced by the proposal. Earlier this year, the Belo Horizonte municipal administration requested additional time to analyse the legislation, leading to a previous postponement in April.

The bill’s suspension also affects a related proposal attached to it under local legislative procedures. As a result, both measures are now on hold.

While the two projects share the objective of limiting betting-related promotion, they differ in scope. Rousseff’s proposal focuses on regulating advertising by betting operators in public spaces and across social media channels.

The accompanying bill, introduced by Councilor Ferreira, goes further by seeking to prevent municipal institutions from entering agreements with betting companies. It also proposes restrictions on promotional giveaways, coupons, tournaments, events sponsored by betting operators, and kiosks that provide direct access to gambling websites.

Additional provisions would prohibit betting firms from acquiring naming rights to municipal properties.

Supporters of the legislation argue that stronger restrictions are needed to address concerns surrounding gambling addiction and rising personal debt linked to betting activity.

Following the postponement, Ferreira criticised the delay, arguing that residents would continue to be exposed to betting advertisements while discussions remain unresolved.

During council debates, he pointed to betting promotions displayed at public events, including activities associated with Belo Horizonte’s Carnival celebrations. According to Ferreira, betting-related branding was highly visible throughout several areas of the city during the festivities.

Despite the setback, Rousseff reiterated his intention to bring the proposal back for a vote in the coming month. He described the issue as an important public policy matter and said he remains committed to pursuing its approval.

The councilor also argued that adopting such legislation would position Belo Horizonte among the first Brazilian capitals to introduce specific restrictions on betting advertising.

However, similar initiatives have already emerged elsewhere in Brazil. Earlier this year, Teresina implemented rules governing betting advertisements on municipal public property, while other municipalities, including Goiânia, have discussed comparable measures.

The debate in Belo Horizonte reflects a broader national discussion regarding gambling advertising and the extent of local authority to regulate it. In April, Rio Grande do Sul approved restrictions on betting promotions that were later challenged by the National Association of Gaming and Lotteries (ANJL), which argued that advertising regulation falls under federal jurisdiction rather than state or municipal control.

As discussions continue, the future of the Belo Horizonte proposal is expected to remain part of the wider conversation surrounding betting advertising and gambling regulation across Brazil.