In the speech delivered in the Plenary on Thursday (4), senator Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE) defended that sports betting needs to be regulated in a responsible manner. According to the parliamentarian, this activity is a “trap” and represents only a visible part of a great problem that affects a very vulnerable part of the population, which is not adequately prepared to deal with the intense promotion of betting.
On the occasion, the senator asked the government, which is drawing up a provisional measure to regulate sports betting, to prohibit companies in this field from sponsoring sports clubs with the exposure of their brands on shirts. The parliamentarian warned that around 500 companies profit billions of reais from betting and argued that it is necessary to impose taxes on these activities. In addition, he highlighted the existence of evidence of manipulation in the results of the games as a result of betting.
“Nowadays, I watch football whenever I can. It’s an aberration what we see there at the edge of the field – ‘bet, bet, bet’ – all the time. , in the stadiums, in the soccer arenas and that one can, above all, ban player advertising, because then you go into emotion – general advertising for this type of situation. Why? Because that will collaborate with a social tragedy”.
During his speech, the senator pointed out that the Premier League, England’s main football league, has already adopted a measure prohibiting the disclosure of bookmakers on the clubs’ shirts. In Girão’s view, it takes courage to confront a powerful lobby that acts in defense of betting companies.
“I hope that the so-called social government may not fall into this temptation and let this vulnerable public get into debt and commit atrocities against their own lives. That’s what I hope. And if you make a correct decision, I come here to congratulate the government. You can be sure of that. And I expect common sense regarding this matter”, completed Eduardo Girão.
