The Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) released official note after the statements of the President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva about the possible closure of betting platforms in Brazil. The entity stated that it shares concerns related to the well-being of families, but highlighted that regulation of the sector is seen as a tool for consumer protection, public collection and combating the illegal market.
According to the institute, the closure of the legal market would not eliminate the demand for betting, but it could increase the activities of clandestine operators. The IBJR argues that informality would reduce user protection mechanisms and eliminate revenue destined for public policies.
According to the entity, combating the illegal market is one of the sector’s main challenges. The institute cites research by Instituto Locomotiva in partnership with LCA Consultoria Econômica, indicating that around 51% of the betting market in Brazil still operates clandestinely. According to the survey, this segment generates approximately R$40 billion per year outside of regulation and generates estimated losses of R$10.8 billion annually to the public coffers.
The IBJR also addressed the concern about the population’s indebtedness, highlighting that technical studies by the LCA indicate that spending on betting represents between 0.2% and 0.5% of Brazilian families’ consumption. Furthermore, data from the National Consumer Debt and Default Survey indicate that credit cards are the main source of over-indebtedness, affecting 80.2% of families.
The entity also highlighted that regulated platforms, identified by the domain “.bet.br”, are prohibited from accepting payments by credit card or cryptocurrencies, a measure that, according to the institute, seeks to reduce financial risks and reinforce consumer protection.
The demonstration takes place after Lula stated that, if it were up to him, the bets would be off in the country and that the issue should be treated as a public health issue. The debate about the sector continues amid the consolidation of the regulated market and the discussion about the social and economic impacts of online betting in Brazil.
Fonte: Gaming365 – Brasil
