The Economic Development Commission of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies has placed a closer examination of the impacts of online betting on the national economy and public health, highlighting the significant divide in stances in the country.
The public hearing brought together government representatives, ruling-party and opposition lawmakers, consumer protection agencies, and associations representing the regulated betting industry.
There was a differing approach in the perspective of legislators advocating for stricter measures—including a complete ban on betting throughout the country—and representatives of the government and the betting industry, with the latter underpinning the importance of boosting the regulatory framework and letting it evolve and flourish to fight against the black market.
Key Takeaways from the Public Hearing on Betting in the Chamber of Deputies
During the session, the Ministry of Health (MS) reported that demand for mental health services within the Unified Health System (SUS) due to problems related to online gambling increased by 137% over the past five years.
According to Marcelo Kimati Dias, Director of the Department of Mental Health, Alcohol, and Other Drugs, the government has created a digital access point within the Meu SUS Digital platform that includes a self-assessment tool and referral mechanisms for individuals showing signs of gambling addiction.
Meanwhile, data presented by the Ministry of Finance (MF) showed that 31 million taxpayer identification numbers (CPF) are registered on authorised betting platforms. Bettors’ losses during 2025 were estimated at approximately R$37 billion (37 billion Brazilian reais).
Leandro Lucchesi, General Coordinator of Regulation at the Prizes and Betting Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance (SPA-MF), argued that regulation has made the market more transparent and enabled the creation of oversight tools.
Lucchesi highlighted measures such as centralised self-exclusion, spending limits set by users themselves, risk classification of games, and the review of potentially manipulative design features such as the “near miss” effect and “losses disguised as wins.”
On the other hand, Johnatan Faraj, Director-General of Procon-DF, described bettors as highly vulnerable consumers and criticised advertising strategies that promote the idea of easy profits. Faraj argued that operators should be required to clearly disclose actual loss percentages and questioned platforms that block users who consistently generate profits.
Defending the regulated sector, Ana Bárbara Costa Teixeira, Director of Government Relations at ABRAJOGO, stated that most bettors participate recreationally and that the main issue lies with illegal operators. She also highlighted the removal of more than 48,000 illegal websites and the blocking of 600 accounts linked to money laundering.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the Economic Development Commission announced that it would request additional information from the Ministry of Finance, the SPA, and the Central Bank regarding market data, tax revenue, bettor spending, and the methodologies used by the government before convening another public hearing.
“In reality, it is difficult to eliminate gambling, but we must create mechanisms to protect a portion of the population that remains vulnerable and provide guidance. That is one of the responsibilities of this Chamber and this Commission, and it reflects the spirit of this public hearing,” said federal deputy Vander Loubet at the close of the meeting
