Government leader in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies puts forward new gambling bill
The government’s leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Congressman José Guimarães has presented a bill (PL 5817/2025) that creates the National Strategy for Combating Gambling Addiction, a set of actions aimed at the prevention, detection, and treatment of gambling addiction in the country.
In his justification for the new bill the lawmaker argues that “the exponential growth of betting platforms in Brazil, especially those conducted through electronic channels, has raised serious concerns in the public health, social protection, and financial security domains of the population.” Guimarães argues that although the sector has recently been regulated “a significant gap remains in the Brazilian legal framework.”
If approved the new law would establish the “National Strategy to Combat Gambling Addiction.” The bill uses as its guide measures influenced by successful practices from other countries that have been tackling similar issues for an extended period and have developed public policies aimed at safeguarding their citizens.
Among the main measures proposed in the legislation is the prohibition of the use of credit cards for placing bets. In addition, the bill also mandates that operators develop and provide resources for self-imposed spending limits, a measure similarly inspired by international experiences. In addition operators “must facilitate the review and adjustment of these limits at any time and are required to send semi-annual reminders to consumers to review their account information and transactions, allowing them to assess whether they wish to modify existing limits or set new ones.”
The bill also calls for “the implementation of behavioural screening tests designed by mental health professionals to identify users suspected of ludopathy.” Those identified as having a gambling addiction will be automatically excluded. In addition the bill sets out to create comprehensive health strategies for individuals with gambling addiction while the Ministry of Finance may impose restrictions on gambling advertising.
