The Brazilian Football Confederation has thrown its public support behind the Bets Law, Brazil’s federal framework governing the regulation of online gambling.
CBF Vice President Michelle Ramalho made the remarks during a panel dedicated to online betting at the 14th Lisbon Forum on 2 June.
Ramalho’s comments came as debate continues over the future of the legislation, which has faced criticism since its introduction as the country’s primary regulatory structure for the sector.
The Bets Law was designed to bring order and oversight to Brazil’s rapidly expanding online gambling market, establishing a licensing framework for operators.
Ramalho defended the role that licensed online operators play within the Brazilian sports ecosystem, particularly highlighting their financial contributions to football.
The CBF’s backing of the legislation signals that major football institutions view regulated gambling as a significant and legitimate revenue stream for the sport.
Brazil has become one of the most closely watched gambling markets globally, with millions of registered users engaging with betting platforms across the country.
The introduction of a formal licensing regime under the Bets Law was intended to protect consumers and ensure operators meet defined standards before entering the market.
Critics of the legislation have raised concerns about problem gambling rates and the pace at which the Brazilian government moved to open the market to licensed operators.
However, the CBF’s intervention suggests that powerful stakeholders in Brazilian sport are prepared to actively resist any moves to weaken or repeal the current regulatory structure.
The 14th Lisbon Forum served as a high-profile stage for Ramalho to make clear that football bodies consider the licensed betting industry a partner worth defending.
Maintaining the Bets Law intact is seen as essential by supporters who argue that rolling it back would push operators and bettors back toward unregulated, offshore alternatives.
