Brazil requires 'Ministry of Finance warns' messages on betting ads
From 17 July 2026, every betting ad in Brazil must carry one of three 'Ministério da Fazenda adverte' warnings covering at least 10% of the ad.
By Oliwer Brewitz, Head of Marketing
Key changes
- Three mandatory 'Ministério da Fazenda adverte' warnings, one per ad
- Warning must be horizontal and cover at least 10% of the ad area
- All participants in betting advertising bound by the prohibitions
- Pundit encouragement to bet on specific events prohibited
- Advertising appealing to minors treated as abusive under consumer law
What changed
Ordinance SPA/MF No. 1,964 of 3 July 2026 amends Ordinance 1,231/2024. Every fixed-odds betting advertisement must carry one of three warnings beginning 'Ministério da Fazenda adverte:': 'Apostar pode causar dependência', 'Apostar faz você perder dinheiro' or 'Aposta não é investimento'. The warning must be horizontal, clear and legible, and occupy at least 10% of the advertisement area. The warning rules took effect on 17 July 2026. At the same time, Interministerial Ordinance MF/SECOM/MJSP No. 73 of 10 July 2026 extended the advertising prohibitions to everyone involved in promoting betting, not only licensed operators.
What it means for advertising
Under the interministerial ordinance, misleading advertising, commentary by experts or pundits encouraging bets on a specific game or event, and promotion of unlicensed platforms' brands, apps, sites or profiles are prohibited. Advertising aimed at under-18s is treated as abusive, as are images, characters or language likely to attract minors, and ads may not run where minors mainly gather, such as schools. Consumer protection bodies can act against agencies, media and other participants, not just operators. For display, video/CTV and DOOH, creative templates need a fixed warning band, and agencies and publishers take on direct compliance risk.
What operators should do
Operators and agencies should redesign templates to include one of the three warnings at 10% or more of the ad area, in horizontal format, across all sizes and formats, including DOOH and video end frames. Briefing documents for presenters, commentators and influencers should rule out event-specific betting encouragement. Media owners should review placement rules near schools and other venues frequented by minors.
Full rules: Brazil regulation brief · All Brazil updates