Two entities have sought a court order requiring betting companies to block the registration and participation of CadÚnico beneficiaries in online games. The entities are asking that, within 90 days, the operators create systems to block access by beneficiaries. The request also includes that the government share, within 15 days, a database of CPFs of Bolsa Família beneficiaries with sportsbooks.
In addition, the entities stipulate a financial penalty. If companies do not comply with the order, they will be fined R$500,000. The amount collected must therefore be used to help families in vulnerable situations.
Entities responsible for the action
Educafro, together with the Mônica Paião Trevisan Child and Adolescent Defense Center, is responsible for initiating the legal action. The goal of these entities is to protect vulnerable social groups and guarantee social rights. The main targets of the lawsuit are the Union, betting houses and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), which represents a large part of the betting sites.
Currently, Bolsa Família benefits almost 54 million families.
The organizations want websites to make it clear in their advertising campaigns that it is not permitted to use social program resources for betting. Furthermore, they ask that the population be warned about social, economic and psychological risks. In this way, they hope to raise awareness and reinforce the protection of beneficiaries.
Government measures to prohibit the use of Bolsa Família in betting
Last month, the Federal Government announced the implementation of a measure that prohibits beneficiaries of Bolsa Família and the Continuous Benefit Payment (BPC) from placing bets online. The decision seeks to prevent people from using social assistance resources in gambling.
At first, they blocked the Bolsa Família card. However, this did not stop people from using other payment methods. Now, the strategy includes blocking the beneficiaries’ CPF, preventing transactions via personal cards or Pix.
However, João Paulo de Faria Santos, coordinator of the Bolsa Família Federal Monitoring Network, highlighted the complexity of the measure, since the beneficiaries’ bank accounts are not exclusive to the program, making it difficult to differentiate the resources.
According to Régis Dudena, Secretary of Prizes and Bets at the Ministry of Treasury, the proposal is in the legal alignment phase to come into effect. The plan is to create a data system shared with authorized betting houses. This will make it possible to control the volume of bets and identify who uses social programs.
