Government to restrict betting ads and require money loss warnings

The government announced on Thursday (9) a tightening of advertising rules for sports betting in the country. Authorized companies will be required to display warnings such as "The Finance Ministry warns: betting makes you lose money," along with variations highlighting that "betting can cause addiction" and "betting is not an investment." The measures take effect starting July 17.

According to Finance Minister Dario Durigan, one ordinance will establish the mandatory warnings, while another, issued jointly with the Justice Ministry, will set new restrictions on advertising by authorized companies. The rules prohibit campaigns that create a sense of urgency to encourage immediate betting, as well as the use of commentators, experts, or influencers to lead bettors to believe that a particular bet is the best choice. Durigan stated: "It is neither lawful nor proper to mislead consumers by mixing expert commentary, saying that the best bet is this one or that path is the right one, giving it a veneer of technical endorsement."

Companies will also be prohibited from using financial gains as bait, promoting betting as easy money or an investment, or displaying prize histories that could mislead consumers. The rules also strengthen protections for children and adolescents, with "zero tolerance" for advertising targeting this audience.

When contacted, IBJR said it was waiting for the ordinances to be published before commenting, while ANJL said it supports the new rules but called for stronger enforcement against illegal platforms.

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