Illegal betting threatens sponsorships and the integrity of Brazilian football, warns consultant.
A study indicates that 51% of online betting revenue in Brazil comes from illegal companies, a trend that could worsen by 2026.
247 - The growth of illegal betting in Brazil could have a significant impact on national football starting next year, with possible contract cancellations and a drop in sponsorship value. This projection was made by a British consultant. Ismail ValiCEO of Yield Sec, a global platform for monitoring the betting market, in an interview with ge, sports portal of Grupo Globo.
According to the study "Brazil - the online gambling market", prepared by Yield Sec, Illegal businesses already account for 51% of the sector's revenue., the equivalent of $ 18,1 billion, surpassing the legally authorized operators, responsible for 49% (R$ 17,4 billion)The data refers to the first half of 2025, a period that marks the beginning of the regulation of the Brazilian sports betting and online casino market.
Vali warns that the expansion of the black market could directly compromise the finances of the clubs. “If we reach the point where more than 60% of the market is criminal, you will see more sponsorship deals being canceled. If it reaches 75%, half of the sponsorship market could disappear.”, he said.
According to the consulting firm's analysis, The participation of illegal companies grew by 10% between the first and second quarters of this year., and the projection is that they will reach 74% by the end of 2026, if no effective measures are taken. "In the future, for legitimate companies to sponsor clubs, the value will decrease because nobody will be making the money they should. That's the biggest fear.""added the expert."
Vali also criticized the current logic behind many sports contracts. “Many deals are driven by ego. Companies want to say they are the biggest betting brand in Brazil and that they sponsor the biggest clubs. But how long will they keep doing that if they're no longer making a profit? Ego is affected when the money runs out.”, said.
Currently, All clubs in the Brazilian Serie A championship are sponsored by betting companies., being that 90% of them occupy the main space on the shirts.In August, the Flamengo announced the largest contract in the country in this segment: R$ 268,5 million with Betano, far exceeding the previous agreement with BRB bank, signed five years ago for R$ 32 million annually.
In addition to the financial impact, the rise of illegal betting represents a risk to the integrity of the sportAccording to the consultant, regulated companies must report any suspicion of manipulation of results to the authorities, which does not happen in the black market. "There is a complete lack of control over integrity in illegal betting. If you have corrupt athletes, they won't use legal betting sites, where everything is reported.", warned.
The Yield Sec survey identified 167 legal operators operating in Brazil in the first half of the year, facing 2.316 illegalDespite the worrying scenario, Vali acknowledges progress in national regulation. “What we’ve discovered in six months of the legal market is great, one of the best performances we’ve seen internationally. But with very fragile foundations. If nothing is done, next year three-quarters of the market will be criminal.”, evaluated.
To curb the growth of illegal betting, the Federal government has been adopting a series of measures. In September, the Prizes and Betting Secretariat (SPA), linked to the Ministry of Finance, signed a technical cooperation agreement with Anatel and National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) to improve the detection and blocking of clandestine websites. In addition, banks and fintech companies that operate as financial intermediaries for these companies are being mapped and investigated.