Brazil's betting ban threatens BRL1bn in club sponsorships, football and Olympic bodies tell Supreme Court

Brazilian football clubs and sports organisations have told the Supreme Federal Court (STF) that the country's betting ban would strip the sector of a major funding source. The warnings came at a public hearing on Tuesday, where 34 entities presented arguments on Provisional Measure 1.394, which prohibited betting in Brazil.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) projects a revenue loss of BRL420 million ($76.5 million) in 2027, tied to naming rights for its competitions. Betano sponsors the top-tier league and Superbet the second tier. CBF lawyer Igor Mauler Santiago said 27 of the 40 clubs in the top two divisions had betting companies as main sponsors, in agreements worth a combined BRL1 billion, or 35% of the clubs' total sponsorship revenue. He added that betting firms also contribute to the value of television rights and to advertising such as pitchside boards.

Individual clubs described their exposure. Flamengo estimated it could lose about BRL430 million a year from its Betano master sponsorship and broadcasting rights. Fluminense said betting sponsorships made up 34% of its 2025 revenue, and its president estimated smaller Rio de Janeiro clubs could see revenue fall by 50%. Cruzeiro said its betting sponsorship equalled four or five payrolls, while Vitória said betting sponsorship and pitchside advertising represented almost 17% of its BRL290 million annual revenue. São Paulo reported roughly BRL101 million from betting-linked sponsorship and advertising between January and September, with its Superbet deal running until 2030. Botafogo called its Vbet agreement, signed in November 2025, the largest sponsorship contract in its history.

The impact reaches beyond football. The Brazilian Olympic Committee estimated betting-linked transfers at BRL130 million in 2027, around 20% of its budget, rising to BRL325 million when other sports bodies are included. The Brazilian Paralympic Committee said the funds had supported the growth of Paralympic sport, and the athletes' federation Fenapaf warned that lost funding could cause unemployment and leave athletes more exposed to match-manipulation approaches.

Several representatives argued that clubs signed contracts and built budgets under a framework set by the government after operators were authorised. Flamengo vice president Flávio de Araújo Willeman and Cruzeiro's representative both argued that problems should be tackled through regulation and oversight rather than prohibition.

Minister Luiz Fux convened the hearing as part of the court's review of the measure, which ANJL is challenging while asking for its effects to be suspended. Fux is expected to set the next steps, and no decision on the ban was announced.