The president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that he is in favor of closing sports betting platforms in Brazil and defended a broader discussion about the impact of the sector in the country. The statement was made in an interview with the ICL Notícias program this Wednesday (8).
According to Lula, the government is evaluating the growth of the sector and its possible social effects. “If betting causes the harm that we think it causes, why don’t we put an end to betting? Or regulate it so that there aren’t so many bets in Brazil”, stated the president, highlighting that any decision also depends on the National Congress.
During the interview, the president also cited concerns about easier access to online betting and family debt. Lula stated that the issue should be treated as a public health issue and mentioned reports of people who had faced significant financial losses associated with gambling.
“It is not possible for us to continue with this rampant gambling in this country. We have to treat this as a health issue”, he stated. The president also said that the decision depends on Congress and a broader debate on the sector.
President Lula also stated that parliamentarians would be involved with the betting sector, suggesting that this influences the debate on possible restrictions. According to Lula, the advancement of betting in the country depends on decisions by the National Congress and its members. “Everyone knows who the deputies are involved in this, who the parties are involved in this, who the senators are,” declared the president, when defending a broader discussion on the topic and possible changes in the regulation of the sector.
Lula also argued that Brazilian football existed for decades without the sponsorship of betting companies, when commenting on the economic impact of the sector on the sport. The president also mentioned that, historically, gambling has been restricted in the country and that the recent expansion of digital betting has brought new regulatory challenges.
The sports betting market in Brazil was recently regulated and remains in a consolidation phase, with licensed companies operating under rules defined by the federal government. The discussion about possible restrictions or regulatory changes must involve the Executive, the Legislature and industry representatives.
Fonte: Gaming365 – Brasil
