Brazilian football champions Botafogo have signed a sponsorship deal with an international bookmaker as the country’s nationwide betting market launch gets underway.
Vbet, an online sportsbook owned by the Armenia-based technology group BetConstruct, has become the ‘main sponsor’ of the Brasileiro Série A club, functioning as a front-of-shirt sponsor.
The three year deal will see the company’s logo displayed on the front of both the Botofafo men’s and women’s team shirts. The duo have highlighted that this is the ‘largest commercial contract’ in the 130 year history of the club.
This lucrative nature showcases the substantial value of betting deals for Brazilian football clubs, many of which have been keen to engage with the country’s emerging betting market even prior to its 1 January 2025 launch.
“The partnership with Vbet is an important moment for Botafogo and our fans,” said Thairo Arruda, CEO of Botafogo.
“The champion of Brazil and America is joining forces with a global company that believes in the work of the Club and its legacy. Vbet joins forces and brings the necessary momentum for Botafogo to continue its journey to the top of Brazilian and world football.”
Brazil’s betting market has been eagerly anticipated by the international gambling industry for some time, having come close to launch under previous President Jair Bolasaro before coming to fruition under current President Lula da Silva.
With over 68 betting licences approved by the Brazilian government and regulations permitting extensive sponsorship and marketing activities, there are ample opportunities for Brazilian clubs to engage with and gain revenue from the sector.
The past year saw a number of high profile clubs sign betting partnerships. Botafogo’s Serie A rivals Atlético Mineiro, for example, have a strong commercial relationship with Greek company Betano. The club’s Chief Commercial Officer, Pedro Melo, discussed the opportunities in betting in an Insider Sport interview last year
In Vbet’s case, this week’s deal further extends the company’s visibility in Latin American sports, building on partnerships with the likes of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and the country’s national team.
The company has a history of sports sponsorship, having worked with Arsenal of the English Premier League, Monaco and Nice of the French Ligue 1, Dynamo Kyiv of the Ukrainian Premier League, and the national teams of Ukraine and Malta.
“This partnership is an important milestone for Vbet, demonstrating our dedication to growth and our ambitious plans in Brazil,” said Ruben Tovmasyan, CEO of Vbet Brazil.
“The ‘V’ in Vbet stands for ‘victory’, and we are proud to partner with a club that has achieved so much success in its history.
“With our commitment to regulatory compliance in Brazil, we aim to provide an exceptional experience for football fans, with a focus on security, reliability and innovation.”
