The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, expressed his concern about the accelerated growth of online gaming platforms during an official event held at the Mint in Rio de Janeiro. The event commemorated the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the minimum wage in Brazil, but the president took the opportunity to address a topic of growing social and economic relevance.
Read also: Casino regulator in the Dominican Republic is released after cooperating with justice
In his speech, he stated that digital betting platforms have transformed the nature of gambling problems in the country. The president assured that casinos, traditionally associated with physical establishments, have managed to enter Brazilian homes directly through mobile devices and computers. This observation highlights the change in entertainment and betting consumption patterns in the digital age.
Concern over access by minors and influence on sports
One of the aspects that generated the most concern in the presidential discourse was the ease with which minors can access these platforms. Lula highlighted that the multiplication of companies dedicated to the online betting sector has significantly expanded opportunities for children and adolescents to participate in gambling activities, despite existing legal restrictions.
The president also pointed out the deep advance of the gambling industry in other sectors of Brazilian society. According to his statements, these companies have established close ties with football, a sport of enormous popularity in the country, and have invested heavily in advertising. Lula also mentioned concerns about possible cases of corruption linked to the sector, although he did not provide specific details about ongoing investigations.
Central Bank working on sector taxation
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Brazil is working on mechanisms to ensure the adequate taxation of online betting companies operating in the national territory. This measure seeks to ensure that the Brazilian state can collect tax revenue from a rapidly expanding industry that, until recently, operated largely in regulatory gray areas.
Lula’s mention of the Central Bank’s work suggests that Brazilian authorities are adopting a pragmatic approach: instead of completely banning online gambling, the government seeks to regulate it, supervise it, and extract tax resources that can be allocated to social welfare.
Ministry of Health presents guide for treating gambling addiction
Parallel to the presidential statements, the Brazilian Ministry of Health released a week ago the “Guide for the Care of People with Problems Related to Betting Games.” This document represents a governmental effort to equip health professionals with specific tools to identify and treat cases of gambling addiction.
The guide was developed through a collaborative process that included the participation of technicians and specialists from the Ministry of Health, including professionals from the Department of Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs, as well as the Secretariat of Specialized Health Care. The document provides practical guidance for workers in the Psychosocial Care Network on how to welcome, follow up, and care for people with gambling-related problems.
Read also: Maryland resumes legislative efforts to ban online sweepstakes casinos after new bills in 2026
Comprehensive care strategy in the public system
The material presented by the Ministry of Health emphasizes the importance of a coordinated response throughout the public health service network. The strategy includes the participation of various levels of care, from Primary Health Care to Psychosocial Care Centers, hospitals, and emergency services. The approach seeks to adjust the type of intervention according to the severity of each individual case.
This multilevel approach recognizes that gambling-related problems can manifest with different degrees of severity and require differentiated responses. Some cases can be effectively addressed at the primary care level, while more complex situations will require specialized interventions in psychosocial centers or even hospital care.
Documented increase in cases in the health system
Data collected by the Ministry of Health reveal a sustained increase in care related to pathological gambling within the Unified Health System between 2018 and 2025. This increase coincides temporally with the expansion of online betting platforms in Brazil, suggesting a correlation between both phenomena.
The official document points out that online betting is associated with various mental health problems, particularly anxiety and depression. Furthermore, it identifies serious socioeconomic consequences, such as excessive indebtedness and the breakdown of social and family ties. These observations reinforce the need to address problem gambling as a public health issue that requires specialized attention and dedicated resources.
Economic and social impact of online gambling
The online betting sector has experienced explosive growth in Brazil in recent years. According to industry estimates, the Brazilian market for sports betting and online gambling could reach a value of several billion dollars annually. This economic volume explains both the government’s interest in collecting tax revenue and the concern about negative social effects.
Companies in the sector have invested aggressively in marketing, becoming main sponsors of football teams, sports competitions, and television programs. This advertising omnipresence has normalized betting in Brazilian popular culture, generating debates about the need for restrictions on advertising targeted at young audiences.
Read also: United Kingdom and Chile sign strategic alliance to regulate the online betting market
