The bill that authorizes casinos and bingos in Brazil, in addition to legalizing Jogo do Bicho and betting on horse races, aims to prevent people with gambling addiction from participating in these activities.
The objective is precisely to prevent the participation of those who suffer from gambling addiction, a medical condition recognized as a compulsion to play games of chance.
Casinos, bingos and betting will not be for everyone
The person with ludomania, before suffering any health symptom itself, has financial and social consequences, before physical and emotional symptoms appear. Therefore, when a person arrives for treatment, their life is often already very bad.
Therefore, to prevent people with gambling disorders from reaching this point, the project envisages the creation of Renapro, the National Registry of Prohibited Persons. This register will contain the names of people prevented from betting or entering gaming venues, including applications and websites.
Therefore, gaming houses will be responsible for managing this registration, checking whether patrons are registered with Renapro. Inclusion in the register can be requested by the citizen himself, by court order or by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Therefore, bets placed by people with gambling disorders will be void. In other words, all obligations related to these games will be cancelled.
Below is the complete list of those who will not be able to participate in any type of game:
- Those declared insolvent;
- Those who are unable to manage their assets;
- Be administrators or participate in the control of gaming venues;
- Work in betting regulatory or supervisory bodies;
- They are over-indebted consumers with a debt negotiation process in court.
Participation in games and betting will only be available to adults who are in full exercise of their civil capacity.
Gaming venues must prevent compulsion
Gaming venues will have to follow rules to avoid compulsion of players. The National Policy for the Protection of Players and Bettors will oblige companies to inform bettors about all the rules of each game and the probabilities of winning clearly.
Advertising for games will be restricted, prohibiting use by children and teenagers, and cannot associate betting with virtue or financial and social success.
Therefore, gaming venues will be responsible for clarifying doubts and receiving complaints. Employees involved in this work will not be able to bet or promote gambling.
Furthermore, no venue will be able to make loans to players or offer bonuses, advances or prior financial advantages as a form of promotion.
Brazil will raise R$22 billion
The legalization of betting games can bring several benefits to Brazil. According to senator Irajá (PSD-TO) in favor and rapporteur of the project, the games generated up to R$31.5 billion in 2023. This was done illegally.
But with the approval of the project, investments could reach R$100 billion, generating 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs. Furthermore, with betting there would be an increase in annual revenue of R$22 billion for states, municipalities and the Union.
The Senate Constitution and Justice Committee approved the project on June 19, by a narrow margin: 14 votes in favor and 12 against. Now, it goes to the plenary for a vote.
President Lula stated that he will sanction the project if it passes in Congress. “I don’t believe in the saying that ‘if there’s a casino, the poor will spend everything they have’. The poor don’t go to the casino, the poor will work at the casino,” he said in an interview with Meio Norte radio, in Piauí.
