Lula’s bill targets the operation, advertising, and payments of illegal betting sites with prison sentences

On Friday (25), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to announce a provisional measure with new rules for the online betting market, as well as a bill establishing specific crimes related to the activity. The information was published by Metrópoles columnist Milena Teixeira. According to her, the proposal to be sent to Congress provides for up to six years in prison and a fine for anyone who operates or promotes illegal betting. The text covers betting operations, advertising, user acquisition, financial transactions, the use of personal data to target campaigns, and the provision of digital betting platforms. What are the key points of Lula’s betting bill According to the proposal described by the column, Anyone operating fixed-odds betting illegally may face a prison sentence of 4 to 6 years, in addition to a fine. Liability may also extend to digital influencers. The same penalty applies to anyone who promotes, accepts, records, or brokers bets, as well as to anyone who makes available or manages locations and channels dedicated to the activity. If the bet involves an online game, the penalty may be increased by one-third. Advertising and bettor acquisition According to Milena Teixeira, the bill stipulates a prison sentence of two to four years and a fine for anyone engaging in advertising, commercial promotion, or marketing activities designed to encourage betting. The same penalty may apply to those who recruit or refer bettors, as well as those who sponsor or monetize advertising for betting brands. The text, however, provides an exception for content of a journalistic, informative, educational, academic, scientific, or critical nature related to betting. Penalties may be increased in cases involving promises of a share in—or actual participation in—the amounts wagered or the losses incurred by acquired users. Furthermore, the proposal establishes a specific offense for the use of personal information to recruit bettors or target advertisements for betting sites. Anyone who transfers, trades, or uses registration data or lists for this purpose may face a prison sentence of two to four years and a fine. The Metrópoles column also highlights that the penalty may be increased when data regarding betting history or volume is used, including information related to gambling problems or minors. Financial transactions and digital platforms The federal government also intends to criminalize certain financial transactions related to betting. Anyone who processes, authorizes, or intermediates payments or prize payouts—while aware of the destination of the funds—may face criminal charges, punishable by two to four years in prison and a fine. The provision, however, does not apply to the bettor regarding the payment of their bets or the receipt of winnings. Parties that license, host, distribute, or make available applications, programs, or platforms for the activity may also face penalties, provided they are aware of the situation addressed in the bill. According to Metrópoles, the penalty will be two to four years in prison and a fine. As it is a bill, the text still needs to be reviewed by the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. If approved by Congress and signed into law by the president, it will come into effect 90 days after publication. Ministry of Finance evaluates future of agency responsible for the betting sector The Ministry of Finance is examining the future structure of the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), a body created to regulate, monitor, oversee, and authorize the operation of the Brazilian online betting market. According to Bastidores CNN, a potential regulatory change could lead the government to downsize the secretariat or even abolish it. This move would raise questions about the fate of the civil servants and how the government would continue to monitor and oversee irregular betting. O post Lula’s bill targets the operation, advertising, and payments of illegal betting sites with prison sentences apareceu primeiro em iGaming Brazil.