Esportes da Sorte seeks to end Corinthians sponsorship contract
Deals & M&A2 min read
In brief
- Esportes da Sorte has asked Corinthians to end their sponsorship without a penalty, citing MP 1.394/2026.
- The contract, renewed in February 2026 to 2029, provides for R$150m fixed per year.
- Corinthians says the outcome depends on Congress's consideration of the measure.
- A public hearing at the STF is scheduled for 3 November.
Esportes da Sorte has notified Corinthians that it wants to end their main sponsorship contract without paying a penalty, citing the suspension of the agreement under Medida Provisória 1.394/2026, which prohibits betting houses from operating in Brazil. Corinthians holds that any decision on the contract depends on the outcome of the measure in the National Congress, the step needed to make the prohibition definitive.
The contract was renewed in February 2026 and runs to 2029, with Esportes da Sorte committed to paying R$150m fixed per year to Corinthians. It has been suspended since 25 September 2026, when the federal government issued MP 1.394, which also suspended all other Brazilian football agreements involving betting houses. In direct sponsorships, betting companies accounted for 7.9% of Série A clubs' income in 2025, according to the source, in addition to investment in competitions and television advertising.
In a statement, Esportes da Sorte said the current situation makes continuing the contracts unviable and argued for formally ending the partnership. "Diante desse impedimento legal, o caminho natural foi formalizar o encerramento das parcerias sem qualquer custo ou penalidade para as partes, exatamente como previsto nos acordos firmados", the statement said. The company also said it and the clubs remain confident in a positive solution for the sector and are ready to resume dialogue if the measure is suspended or amended.
On Tuesday 3 November, Corinthians and other clubs are due to take part in a public hearing at the Supreme Tribunal Federal (STF) on cases concerning the activity of betting companies in Brazil. New actions have been filed at the court since the measure was published, and in Congress amendments to the measure propose keeping part of the sector's activities, with emphasis on the role of betting companies in financing sport.