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Brazil’s Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide public awareness campaign warning of the risks associated with online betting, marking the federal government’s latest effort to address gambling-related harm following the launch of the country’s regulated betting market.
The National Campaign to Prevent Harms from Online Betting began on 26 July and will run across television, radio and social media. According to the ministry, the initiative aims to raise awareness of the health risks linked to problematic gambling while promoting mental health services available through Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS).
Announcing the campaign, the ministry said it was being launched “amid the start of the Brasileirão championship and the staging of major sporting events” to alert the public to “the risks associated with problematic use of online betting platforms” and to publicise the mental health services available to bettors and affected family members through the SUS.
The campaign encourages individuals experiencing gambling-related harm to seek treatment through the public healthcare system, including Psychosocial Care Centres (CAPS), primary healthcare services and the digital health platform Meu SUS Digital.
The Ministry of Health said gambling-related disorders had become an increasing public health concern as online betting has expanded in Brazil. Earlier this year, it published national clinical guidelines for healthcare professionals on identifying and treating gambling disorder within the SUS network.
In the press release, the ministry said the campaign forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen prevention and access to treatment, stating that it aims to “inform the population, reduce stigma and encourage people to seek care through the SUS.”
The initiative follows a series of regulatory measures introduced by the Ministry of Finance since Brazil’s regulated fixed-odds betting market began operating.
Earlier this month, new advertising rules came into force requiring operators to display warnings that betting can cause addiction and financial loss, while prohibiting advertisements portraying gambling as a way to earn income or recover financial losses.
