Brazilian Influencers Criticise Online Gambling Ban

Several major Brazilian influencers have criticised Brazil's new ban on online betting and casino games, with reactions focusing on the potential growth of illegal gambling and the loss of sponsorship revenue.

The responses followed President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's September 25 decision to prohibit online gambling in the country.

D'Ponta News reported reactions from Davi Brito, Luqeta, Yuri Brida, Marianne Silva, Rico Melquíades, Mari Menezes and Pedro Ortega, all of whom have substantial audiences on social media.

Davi Brito Warns Players Could Move to Illegal Operators

Davi Brito, a former Big Brother Brasil participant with around 7 million Instagram followers, argued that closing the legal market could push players toward illegal gambling platforms.

Brito has previously promoted a betting operator, making the restrictions relevant to both his audience and commercial partnerships.

Luqeta, who has more than 3.7 million followers across his social channels, also criticised the decision and questioned why gambling should be prohibited.

Rico Melquíades, who has approximately 12.3 million Instagram followers, said the ban would not necessarily stop Brazilians from continuing to bet.

Mari Menezes, with around 11.5 million Instagram followers, also spoke against the restrictions.

Yuri Brida Jokes About Opening a Casino in Venezuela

Yuri Brida, who has around 2.3 million Instagram followers, responded in a humorous way, saying he would move to Venezuela, buy a house and open his own casino.

Marianne Silva, followed by approximately 1 million people on Instagram, focused on the financial impact of the decision. She complained about losing sponsorship support and income connected to virtual gaming promotions.

Pedro Ortega, who has around 819,000 Instagram followers, linked his reaction to Brazil's broader political and electoral environment.

The comments illustrate the immediate commercial impact of the restrictions on creators who have incorporated betting and online casino promotions into their social media activity.

Gambling Ban Hits Brazil's Influencer Marketing Market

The new restrictions extend beyond gambling operators themselves because they also affect advertising and sponsorship arrangements.

That creates a direct impact for influencers who have worked with betting brands through paid posts, promotional videos and longer-term sponsorship agreements.

The public reactions also show different arguments being made against the ban. Some creators have focused on their own loss of income, while others argue that Brazilian players may continue gambling through unlicensed operators.

Those claims represent the influencers' views and do not establish how Brazilian gambling behaviour will change following the restrictions.

The ban was announced on September 25 as part of the government's decision to end legal online betting and casino operations in Brazil.