Zona de Azar Brazil – Brazil: Interministerial Working Group on Mental Health and Problem Gambling Prevention

Brazil.- February 25, 2025 – www.zonadeazar.com On Monday, the 21st, the Official Gazette of the Union (Diário Oficial da União – DOU) published Ordinance MF No. 153.

This document appoints the members of the Interministerial Working Group (GTI) on Health, Prevention, and Harm Reduction of Problem Gambling, which was established by Interministerial Ordinance MF/MS/MESP/SECOM No. 37, published on December 6, 2024.

The Ministry of Finance will be represented by:

• Carolina Yumi de Souza (Deputy Secretary of Prizes and Betting)
• Daniele Correa Cardoso (General Coordinator for Responsible Gaming Monitoring)
• Francisco Carvalheira Neto (General Coordinator of Regulation)
• Andiara Maria Braga Maranhão (Acting Responsible Gaming Coordinator)

The Ministry of Health has appointed:

• Sônia Barros (Director of the Department of Mental Health, Alcohol, and Other Drugs)
• Gabriella de Andrade Boska (Coordinator of the Psychosocial Care Network Management)
• Gilmara Lucia Santos (Director of the Department of Prevention and Health Promotion)
• Letícia de Oliveira Cardoso (Director of the Department of Epidemiological Analysis and Surveillance of Non-Communicable Diseases)

The Ministry of Sports will be represented by:

• Giovanni Rocco Neto (National Secretary of Sports Betting and Economic Development in Sports)
• Diogo Ferreira Barros Medeiros de Souza (Director of Promotion, Entrepreneurship, and Digital Economy)
• Ermeson de Amorim Melo (General Coordinator of Fixed-Odds Sports Betting Approval)
• Danilo Barbosa Mendonça (General Coordinator of Economic Development in Sports)

Finally, the Secretariat for Social Communication of the Presidency of the Republic appointed:

• Mariana Giancoli Cardoso Pita (General Coordinator for Diversity and Pluralism Promotion)
• Denis Rodrigues da Silva (General Coordinator for Network Rights Protection)
• Renata Tavares do Rêgo (Chief of Staff)
• Márcia Luiza de Araújo e Souza (Director of Strategy and Information)

The full list, including alternate members, can be accessed here. The ordinance, signed by Fernando Haddad, Minister of Finance, took effect on Monday, the 21st.

What Is the Purpose of This Interministerial Working Group?

The group’s objective is to develop and plan prevention, harm reduction, and assistance measures for individuals and social groups experiencing persistent and recurring problem gambling behavior or those in vulnerable situations.

The Mental Health and Problem Gambling Prevention Action Plan will be created, including actions, policies, and preventive measures, as well as harm reduction and assistance programs for vulnerable social groups.

The Working Group will be responsible for:

• Promoting studies, analyses, and discussions on administrative actions, public policies, and regulatory strategies.
• Proposing any relevant actions, policies, and measures to reduce harm and address problem gambling within each Ministry’s scope.
• Developing guidelines for prevention and treatment of health issues related to gambling.
• Coordinating with or requesting data, resources, or collaboration from any public or private entity as necessary.

The group will also be able to implement:

• Educational campaigns and awareness programs for bettors regarding gambling risks.
• Mental health support programs for affected individuals.
• Guidelines for responsible gambling operators, including risk classification and monitoring strategies.

The coordination of the group will be shared among representatives appointed by the Ministers of Health, Sports, Finance, and SECOM. The group will meet at least every 15 days, as well as for extraordinary sessions upon request from the coordinators or one-third of its members.

All discussions held during the group’s meetings must remain confidential, unless previously authorized by the coordinators.

According to the ordinance, the Interministerial Group will have 60 days to deliver its final report, which must include a description of the actions taken, results achieved, and an action plan. This deadline can be extended, but only for a determined period shorter than 60 days, upon request by the coordinators. Source

Edited by: @_fonta www.zonadeazar.com