Tarcísio de Freitas, campaigning for re-election as governor of São Paulo, has called for a ban on gambling in Brazil during a recent debate. Seeking support from conservative voters, the governor expressed his strong opposition to sports betting, stating, “Either Brazil ends betting, or betting ends Brazil. We have to understand that this is a health problem.” His statement came during the “Health Dialogues” debate at the Union of Hospitals, Clinics and Laboratories of São Paulo (SindHosp).
The surge of online betting platforms has positioned Brazil as one of the largest gambling markets globally. However, Tarcísio argues that the issue has escalated beyond mere entertainment, framing it as a pressing public health concern. He likened the situation of online gambling to the historical battle against smoking, asserting that addiction warrants treatment as a health issue. The governor emphasized the need for specialized care for those affected.
He further linked gambling's rise to rising debt levels among Brazilians, claiming that “20% of Brazilians’ income is committed to gambling,” although he did not provide sources for this statistic. Tarcísio is advocating for a comprehensive national program focused on addressing gambling addiction that is robust, accessible, and digitized.
“We were effective in getting people off tobacco,” he noted. “And so the question is: will we be able to be effective in freeing people from drugs? The challenges are the same now. Perhaps the challenges now are greater than the challenges of tobacco were in the past.”
The expansion of online betting is not only an economic issue; it has sparked a moral, social, and electoral debate in Brazil. Tarcísio’s remarks echo sentiments expressed recently by President Lula, who has also criticized gambling.
Industry representatives are preparing for increased scrutiny during the election campaign. Plínio Lemos Jorge, in a recent conversation with iGaming Business, remarked that “the industry will have to remain resilient during this period.” The president of the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) believes any challenging period will eventually lead to a more stable outlook for the market, saying, “after this turbulent period, the market tends to become less of a target for criticism.”
