On Wednesday, the 6th, the Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais (ALMG) received a bill that aims to regulate online betting in the state. This project, proposed by assemblyman Alencar da Silveira Júnior, from PDT, establishes a prohibition on sports betting platforms allowing predictions on events linked to the individual conduct of athletes, such as punishments for cards and the number of fouls committed. The aim is to avoid excessive exploitation of individual aspects of games, protecting the integrity of sports.
Furthermore, the project seeks to prohibit online betting on random games such as roulette, casinos, bingo and the popular Jogo do Bicho, including variants such as “Jogo do Tigrinho”. This approach aims to restrict gambling practices that are not only potentially addictive but also difficult to monitor effectively.
Project analysis
The proposal will initially be submitted to the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) of the Assembly. The expectation is that the Minas Gerais State Lottery (Lemg) will be in charge of supervising compliance with the proposed rules. In case of violation, bookmakers would be subject to fines.
The project also provides that “betting agents operating in the state must establish, on their platforms, permanent policies to prevent, combat and treat gamblers’ addiction.” This includes implementing tools to detect cases of abuse, as stipulated in regulations.
Alencar da Silveira Júnior argues that the ban on betting on individual conduct will not affect bets on the general results of sporting matches. “The objective is to ensure that the online betting market operates responsibly, preserving consumer integrity and mitigating risks to public health,” explained the assemblyman.
Betting investigations in Minas Gerais
The issue of betting on individual conduct, such as yellow and red cards, has raised global concerns and investigations into possible irregularities. Recently, a Federal Police operation targeted family members of striker Bruno Henrique, from Belo Horizonte and Flamengo player.
Bruno is suspected of having intentionally received a yellow card in a match against Santos last year, during Series A of the Brazilian Championship. Such action was allegedly carried out to benefit bettors linked to him.
This bill comes at a crucial time for the state of Minas Gerais. Furthermore, it addresses concerns about both sporting integrity and consumer protection.
Meanwhile, the proposal advances through the legislative stages. The debate over its impact therefore continues to be a focal point of discussion regarding the future of online betting in the state.
