Portuguesa SAF President speaks out against the ban on betting companies: “Prohibition is not the solution”

In an article published on the MKT Esportivo portal, Alex Bourgeois, president of Portuguesa SAF, discussed the potential ban on betting companies in Brazil. In his text, the executive highlighted the negative aspects the ban would bring to Brazilian football and offered alternatives to address the problems existing within the country. The impact of the ban on betting companies in Brazilian football The author began the text by noting that, last year, 18 of the 20 teams in the Brazilian Championship Série A featured betting companies as their main sponsors, generating around R$ 1.1 billion per season. “When we discuss banning their advertising and sponsorships, we aren’t just talking about betting. We are also talking about soccer,” he said. Bourgeois highlighted that sponsorship is advertising, and the impact of ending it would be significant. When a betting company places its brand on a jersey, a sign, a broadcast, or a competition, there is a voluntary commercial relationship that funds an entire industry. “Banning this exposure means taking away a significant source of funding for the sport,” he stated. In the executive’s view, it is important to discuss, above all, who will replace this money. “There is an entire chain made up of smaller clubs, competitions, federations, broadcasters, platforms, professionals, and thousands of jobs that depend—directly or indirectly—on football’s ability to generate commercial revenue,” he said. Other ways to solve the problem According to him, the problem of betting exists and needs to be tackled, but not by taking the decision out of people’s hands. Children and adolescents must be protected. Education and information are fundamental. Misleading advertising must be combated, limits must be in place, and people who develop compulsive behavior need to find mechanisms for protection and treatment. “But protecting children and informing adults is very different from making decisions for adults and for those children’s parents,” he pointed out. “The individual owns themselves and must be free to make their own decisions, provided they do not violate the rights of others,” emphasized Bourgeois. For him, the right path would involve the imposition of strict rules and responsible communication. Regulate, oversee, educate, and protect—especially children and vulnerable individuals. Demand responsible communication. Punish abuses. Combat match-fixing with absolute rigor. Teach from an early age that betting is entertainment—not an investment or a way to get rich. But simply banning it doesn’t solve the issue. Finally, he stated that he does not agree with eliminating something that can be regulated, monitored, and used responsibly. A responsible society is not one where someone decides everything for you. “It is the one that gives you information, establishes clear rules, punishes those who violate them, and allows you to bear the consequences of your own decisions,” he concluded. O post Portuguesa SAF President speaks out against the ban on betting companies: “Prohibition is not the solution” apareceu primeiro em iGaming Brazil.