Zona de Azar Brasil – Brazil Senator Rodrigues: “Bets Affect Economy and Health”

Brazil.- September 5, 2024, www.zonadeazar.com. In a speech this Tuesday (3), Senator Chico Rodrigues (PSB-RR) expressed concern about the growing impact of online betting on the financial and mental health of Brazilians. The senator cited a study by Strategy&, a strategic consulting firm of PwC, which indicates that online betting has diverted significant resources away from retail consumption, affecting the country’s economic recovery, even amid rising income and record employment levels.

— The data reveal that 63% of online bettors in Brazil have had part of their income compromised by betting. As a consequence, 23% stopped buying clothes, 19% reduced spending on groceries, and 14% cut back on hygiene and beauty products. This perception is reinforced by a report from XP Investimentos, which indicates that online betting already consumes 20% of discretionary spending in low-income households. My people, pay attention: especially low-income families! Last month, a report from Itaú pointed out that Brazilians lost R$ 23.9 billion in 12 months, an amount equivalent to 0.2% of GDP, 0.3% of total consumption, and 1.9% of the Brazilian wage bill — he said.

The senator drew attention to the risks of gambling addiction, which can lead to increased debt and default — issues that, he emphasized, further impact the economy. In addition to the economic impacts, the senator stressed that gambling addiction leads to the devastation of players’ mental health, resulting in anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and, in extreme cases, suicide.

Chico Rodrigues also highlighted the importance of Ordinance No. 1,231 of 2024, from the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets at the Ministry of Finance, which is part of the regulation of Law 14,790 of 2023 (the Betting Law). The ordinance includes responsible gaming regulations, such as the prohibition of selling football jerseys with betting platform logos to minors, as well as the requirement for warnings about the risks of gambling in advertisements.

However, he expressed concern about the effectiveness of these measures and criticized the use of generic messages like “Play responsibly” in betting advertisements, which would not meet legal requirements. He suggested the inclusion of more direct warnings, such as “Warning: gambling is addictive,” to raise public awareness of the risks.

The senator also warned about the risks of a possible approval of PL 2,234/2022, a bill that aims to legalize casinos and bingo halls in Brazil, and stated that the measure could further exacerbate the already existing problems.

— We must all be very careful, whether we are gambling enthusiasts or not, as gambling is making our nation sick. It is an economic problem and a public health crisis with numerous social and familial repercussions. These bets, these gambling games, are a true disservice to Brazilian society. Therefore, let’s focus on these crucial issues to improve the actions of us politicians, of us members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate, of the Executive and Judicial branches, to offer the Brazilian population not fights, conflicts, and confrontations that increasingly expose the inner workings of this Parliament, but rather issues and topics that truly relate to the daily lives of each of us Brazilians.

Senate Agency (Reproduction authorized with citation of Senate Agency) Source: Senate Agency

Editor: @_fonta www.zonadeazar.com