Brazil betting ban leads to staff cuts in sports media

A regulation banning fixed-odds betting and related advertising in Brazil has narrowed the revenue base of sports media organizations. Belo Horizonte-based Rádio Itatiaia confirmed 16 departures to Folha de S.Paulo as part of a financial restructuring. According to the newspaper, about 20 people were laid off on November 10. Folha linked these cuts to the loss of betting-related commercial revenue.

Digital sports platform Canal GOAT has also reduced its staff and sought to terminate three broadcasting contracts. The newspaper noted that this request does not mean the cancellation has been approved. The agreements that could be affected include the Scottish men's football league and women's football leagues in England and the United States. The platform has continued to hold the rights to German football, the Saudi Arabian league and Brazil's Série B. According to Folha, the channel has more than 5.4 million subscribers on YouTube.

On November 3, at a hearing before the Federal Supreme Court, the Brazilian Football Confederation estimated that the ban could reduce revenue by about 67.48 million euros in 2027. This figure is the federation's projection and not a confirmed loss across all clubs. According to the federation, 27 of the 40 clubs in Brazil's top two divisions have betting companies as their main sponsors. The confederation calculates the total value of these sponsorship contracts at about 160.67 million euros and states that this represents 35 percent of clubs' sponsorship revenue.

Provisional Measure 1.394, signed in September, prohibits fixed-odds betting and related advertising. In Congress records, this measure is awaiting the establishment of a joint committee. Its permanent legal status is still under legislative consideration.