Bodybuilding on Offer for Betting in Brazil
In Brazil, a new type of sports competition will soon be available for sports betting enthusiasts: bodybuilding. The first competition that bettors can get involved in via sportsbooks will be Mr. Olympia Brasil in São Paulo, taking place between September 23rd to 25th. It marks a new step in sports betting for the South American country, and a development for the recognition of bodybuilding competitions in mainstream sports discourse. It also raises questions about Brazil’s ongoing battle for sports betting legalization.
Bodybuilding will be the newest sport available to betting fans in Brazil via UpSports.Bet. Norbert Buduczki/Unsplash
A “milestone” for bodybuilding and sports betting
Sports betting has been a popular pastime in Brazil — and across Latin American — for some time. In fact, it’s been a widely available form of betting long before recent laws were voted on to properly legalize and fully regulate sports betting in the country for the first time. So far, soccer has been one of the top sports for betting fans, alongside boxing and basketball among others.
Bodybuilding will join these sports as a betting option via UpSports.Bet, a sports betting company operating in Brazil. The betting scheme for the Mr. Olympia competition — which is the biggest championship in Brazil for the sport — will allow players to predict which bodybuilders will place where in the rankings.
The championship itself has seven different categories for its finely-sculpted competitors. The most popular of these is the “Classic Physique” for professional athletes and takes place on September 24. Winners can bag great cash prizes from between about $2,000 USD and $580 USD. The overall winner will also go on to rep Brazil in Las Vegas for the Bodybuilding World Cup.
For amateur bodybuilders, the Olympia competition represents much more than a chance to compete for cash. It’s also a chance to be recognized professionally. Winners in the other six categories will be allowed to compete as professionals in 2023 and eventually enter the worldwide competition as well.
UpSports.Bet has shared that they not only wish to bring more exciting sports betting options to players in Brazil, but also to promote the art of bodybuilding with this new betting category. They explained it is a way to increase visibility but also competition between fans of the sport in a way that is more commonly seen in Brazil with games like soccer.
Felipe Dias, UpSports.Bet’s CEO, made a statement to the effect that bodybuilding deserves the same level of recognition as the other top sports in the country. He also described the move by the company to include bodybuilding in sports betting as a milestone in the history of the sport. The company also got involved due to personal relationships with some of Brazil’s top bodybuilders: Julio Balestrin, Felipe Franco, and Renato Cariani. The three competitors also wanted to have a chance to be in competition where betting was possible.
LiveSports will be the audiovisual broadcasting partner for the event. With their expertise, fans will be able to access footage from the event. They also have streamlined the process for UpSports.Bet in terms of ticketing and security around placing bets via the company’s app.
Brazil’s sports betting bill
There was much celebration in the sports betting world earlier this year when Brazil’s legislators finally approved a bill to legalize the gaming vertical. However, the implementation of the law has suffered from numerous delays.
Finally, it was announced that the bill will come into effect on December 13, 2022, no matter the actions of the legislature in the coming months. Part of the question around the legalization has been whether Brazil’s president would comply with the order or veto the betting bills. However, it looks like he will reluctantly comply and still be able to retain his connections with Brazil’s evangelical groups — an important political and voting block.
