The São Paulo Junior Football Cup, popularly known as Copinha, is not on Brazilian sports betting platforms. The absence is not accidental, but the result of a federal government ban based on specific legislation that protects competitions involving minors and youth categories.
In December 2024, on the eve of the 55th edition of the tournament, the Prizes and Betting Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance published a definitive technical note: all forms of betting on grassroots games in Brazilian sport were prohibited, in addition to any type of advertising, advertising or sponsorship of betting companies in grassroots competitions.
The rule is clear and objective: all grassroots competitions, from all sports, were excluded from the Brazilian betting market, regardless of the importance or popularity of the tournament.
Cup games without bets: how the law works
The technical note from the Ministry of Finance established four specific prohibitions for grassroots games, under penalty of administrative sanctions:
- Betting offer on all matches
- Sponsorships of betting operators on team uniforms
- Advertising and advertising in stadiums where matches are held
- Advertising during television, radio and internet broadcasts
The restrictions came into force from January 1, 2025, practically coinciding with the start of Copinha 2025. Any betting company that fails to respect the rules will be subject to administrative proceedings and penalties provided for in the legislation.
Why protection for young athletes?
The Brazilian government assesses that children and adolescents represent a particularly vulnerable audience in the context of sports betting.
SPA/MF Ordinance No. 1,231/2024 details extensive restrictions related to minors, prohibiting any communication, advertising or betting marketing action that:
- Be broadcast in places intended for use by children under 18 years of age
- Include the participation of people under 18 years old
- Be aimed at children or teenagers as the target audience
- Use images of young people or elements appealing to this audience
- Associate bets with cultural activities for children and teenagers
The Consumer Protection Code also provides protection, highlighting the vulnerability of children and young people in the consumer market. The Child and Adolescent Statute (Law No. 8,069/1990) reinforces this protection, prohibiting the sale of “lottery tickets and equivalents” to minors.
Risks of early involvement in betting
The government’s technical note warns of the specific dangers of exposing young people to the betting market: “Youth is a stage of cognitive and emotional development, in which young people are more susceptible to external influences.”
Allowing betting or advertising bets in Copinha could “encourage young people to bet, even indirectly, under penalty of encouraging the development of risky behavior, dependence and even debt, negatively affecting young people’s mental health, their social relationships and their academic performance”.
Supervision and administrative processes
In 2025, the Brazilian government opened 35 administrative proceedings against betting companies that failed to comply with the rules, illegally offering bets on grassroots games or maintaining irregular advertising during grassroots competitions.
The Prizes and Bets Secretariat actively monitors platforms authorized to operate in Brazil, and any violation of regulations is subject to penalties that may include significant fines and even suspension of authorization to operate in the Brazilian market.
MORE: Copinha 2026 table: groups, games and where to watch
