Illegal operators are bigger than legal operators in Brazil, study says

Brazil’s Football Sponsorship Market Faces Challenges as Illegal Betting Grows Brazil’s football sponsorship industry is at risk of decline due to the expanding presence of illegal betting platforms, according to new data from international gaming consultancy Yield Sec. Every club in Brazil’s Série A has betting sponsors, with nearly 90% featuring operators as their main shirt sponsors. The rise of unlicensed platforms not only threatens sponsorship revenue but also raises concerns over sports integrity, as these operators are not subject to the same monitoring and reporting standards as licensed firms. In the first half of 2025, Brazil registered 167 licensed betting operators, contrasted with over 2,300 unregulated ones. The consultancy describes Brazil’s legalization process as “strong but fragile,” warning that without stricter enforcement, up to 75% of the market could become illegal by 2026.