Lawmakers release package of laws aimed at protecting players in Brazil
A group of seven lawmakers – federal deputies Duda Salabert, Camila Jara, Dorinaldo Malafaia, Duarte Jr, Tabata Amaral, and Pedro Campos, along with Senator Alessandro Vieira – has presented a new package of legislative initiatives aimed at restricting online sports betting.
According to the lawmakers, “it is up to the National Congress to adopt a firm and preventive stance to promote responsible regulation of the sector and defend the rights of children and adolescents, as well as protect the mental health of the population.”
One of the bills, presented in both chambers, prohibits advertising and commercial promotion of bets, products, services, or similar arrangements. The exception allows gaming operators to advertise within their establishments, provided they include warning messages about the risks of gambling, awareness information for bettors, and are prohibited from advertising to individuals under 18 years old.
Another bill addresses the limitation of bets, which may impose caps on monthly transfers and could even prohibit all transactions. These limitations will apply to individuals considered part of the “risk group,” such as those registered in CadÚnico or credit protection registries, partners in companies undergoing judicial recovery or bankruptcy, and players suspended by court order, among others.
The third bill requires that the betting operator must transfer 25% of the deposits made by the bettor into a savings account belonging to the individual, creating a kind of compulsory savings account as an educational measure to encourage saving over the risk of betting.
The fourth bill prohibits individuals in commission positions and functions of direction, leadership, and advisory roles within the Federal Administration, as well as those in positions with regulatory or supervisory authority over this type of betting, from participating as partners or shareholders in fixed-odds betting companies. This measure is intended to ensure that these individuals cannot unduly benefit, favour operators, or exploit insider information.
The lawmakers have also sent a recommendation to the Ministry of Health suggesting the implementation of specific programs to train health workers and establish partnerships with local governments for the treatment and prevention of gambling addiction-related issues.
“It is urgent to protect families, especially young people, who are today bombarded by advertisements disguised as entertainment,” the members of the group stated in a joint statement.
