Last Thursday (26), Minister Luiz Fux, of the STF (Supreme Federal Court), announced a public hearing to debate issues about sports betting and online gaming. The event will take place on November 11th, and will bring together important representatives from the government and civil society.
What will be covered at the meeting
Among the guests are the presidents of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, and the Chamber, Arthur Lira, as well as the Minister of Treasury, Fernando Haddad, and the president of the Central Bank, Roberto Campos Neto.
According to Minister Fux, the hearing aims to “clarify” technical aspects about mental health and the neurological impacts of betting on human behavior.
The proposal covers a range of relevant topics:
- Economic effects for trade
- What impacts on the domestic economy
- Social consequences of betting
The STF minister highlighted the importance of an interdisciplinary analysis of betting, involving neuroscience, finance and social issues. Therefore, the objective is to ensure that future judicial pronouncements have a solid basis and democratic legitimacy.
But the call for the hearing arose from an action by the CNC (National Confederation of Commerce in Goods, Services and Tourism), which questions the constitutionality of law 14,790 of 2023. The CNC argues that the regulation of online betting aggravates compulsive behaviors, mainly affecting the most vulnerable populations.
Among the concerns raised by the confederation, the growing debt of Brazilian families stands out. This situation not only reduces the consumption of goods and services, but also negatively affects retail trade and the country’s economy.
Confirmed guests for the hearing on betting at the STF:
The list of guests for the STF hearing includes:
- Rodrigo Pacheco, president of the Senate;
- Arthur Lira, president of the Chamber of Deputies;
- Fernando Haddad, Minister of Treasury;
- Roberto Campos Neto, president of the BC;
- Bruno Dantas, president of the TCU (Federal Audit Court);
- Paulo Gonet, Attorney General of the Republic;
- Jorge Messias, attorney general of the Union;
- Nísia Trindade, Minister of Health;
- Macaé Evaristo, Minister of Human Rights;
- Anielle Franco, Minister of Racial Equality;
- CNC representatives;
- ANJL (National Association of Games and Lotteries);
- IJL (Brazilian Institute of Legal Gaming);
- Women of Brazil Group;
- Educafro.
Bolsa Família beneficiaries
A survey by the Central Bank showed that, between January and August 2024, bookmakers received R$10.5 billion from Bolsa Família. This information was made public at the request of Senator Omar Aziz (PSD-AM), and ended up generating a lot of concern.
Then, during an event in São Paulo, Roberto Campos Neto described the data as “quite worrying”. The study indicates that more than 8.9 million beneficiaries of the program allocated resources to betting, with an average value of R$1,179 per person.
The data reveals that the average monthly expenditure was R$1.31 billion, or R$147 per beneficiary. Of these bettors, 5.4 million, that is, 60.5% of participants, are heads of families.
However, executives in the online betting sector claim that the lack of clarity in the methodology used by the Central Bank undermines the accuracy of the data. The Federal Government is considering restricting the access of program beneficiaries to the betting sector.
