The Court ordered the government of Bahia to correct a notice for June festivals promoted by the state to restrict the
The judge of the 6th Public Finance Court of Salvador gave the state 48 hours to correct the notices, agreements and artistic contracts. The forecast is to spend R$146 million on the events.
The new notices must restrict the display of bet brands to only after 10pm and prohibit advertising in children’s programming. The Court banned any leafleting, approaching the public and offering gifts.
Contracted artists and bands are prohibited from carrying out active merchandising, and the event must raise awareness about mental health and the risk of addiction with games on the stage screens.
In the decision, the judge stated that it is incompatible for the state to be the guarantor of health and social protection rights, but at the same time
“Private fundraising is legitimate and should be encouraged, as long as it is contained within ethical guidelines and health limits that avoid commercial harassment directed at vulnerable populations”, says an excerpt from the decision.
The lawyer who filed the lawsuit, Fernanda Braga, wanted to prohibit any type of sponsorship by bookmakers at events funded by the public authorities.
The decision met part of the request. Fernanda, who is co-founder of the NGO Bet Free, says that the decision opens a necessary debate about the limits of advertising.
“It is not about preventing the legal activity of betting, nor the cultural importance of São João, but about stating that economic freedom, popular culture and private sponsorship need to coexist with the protection of children, adolescents, beneficiaries of social programs and other vulnerable audiences”, he told the Panel.
Municipalities that fail to comply with their obligations may have the amounts transferred by the state withheld. And the government is subject to paying a daily fine of R$50,000 if it does not rectify the notice.
In a note, the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Bahia stated that “it was not officially cited regarding the aforementioned decision and, therefore, does not know the entire content of the initial statement or the aforementioned judicial pronouncement.”
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