Rio Grande do Sul governor Eduardo Leite said on 18 March he may drop sports betting from a proposal to restore the state lottery, according to the report. The bill has not yet been sent to the state legislature, and the government plans to assess feedback before finalising it.
Operators face uncertainty over whether sports betting will be included in the planned private concession for the state lottery.
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Rio Grande do Sul’s Legislative Assembly defended State Law 16.508/2026 in a filing responding to a constitutional challenge before Brazil’s Supreme Court. The law restricts betting advertising, including by requiring warnings, limiting audiovisual ads to 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and barring promotions near schools and sports facilities. The state argues it can regulate advertising to protect consumers and children, and asks the court to dismiss the challenge.
Rio Grande do Sul governor Eduardo Leite signed a law restricting when sports betting adverts can run in the state, according to the report. The rules also set advertising-content requirements, with betting companies and media outlets given four months to comply. Abert said it plans to challenge the law in court.
Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite signed Law 16.508 on 24 April, setting restrictions on advertising and sponsorship by fixed-odds betting platforms; the law was published in the state’s official gazette on 27 April. It requires prominent warning messages and prohibits content aimed at under-18s, including the use of mascots and fictional characters; the source text also says live broadcasts cannot include odds or promotional bonuses.
Rio Grande do Sul’s Legislative Assembly scheduled a public hearing on sports betting risks for 19 March, as the state government develops a proposal to credential betting companies. The proposal would charge companies R$5 million for a five-year authorisation; the state government had not confirmed whether it would attend the hearing, according to the report.
ABERT asked Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court on 25 August to suspend Rio Grande do Sul’s law restricting betting-platform advertising, as the measure took effect. The association argues that the state exceeded its constitutional powers and warns that differing state rules could create as many as 27 separate regimes; the court had not issued a final ruling in the account provided.