Tarcísio de Freitas, a candidate for re-election as governor of São Paulo, expressed during a debate that Brazil needs to terminate sports betting. In a move aimed at appealing to conservative voters, he joined a growing wave of criticism against sports betting from prominent political figures.
While campaigning to retain his position at the Palácio dos Bandeirantes, Tarcísio declared, "Either Brazil ends betting, or betting ends Brazil. We have to understand that this is a health problem." His remarks were made at the "Health Dialogues" debate, hosted at the Union of Hospitals, Clinics and Laboratories of São Paulo (SindHosp).
The rapid rise of online betting platforms has positioned Brazil as a significant market globally. However, Tarcísio argues that this trend has evolved beyond mere entertainment, now representing a serious public health issue that requires immediate action.
He has drawn parallels between today’s situation with online gambling and the historical battle against smoking addiction. Tarcísio believes that gambling addiction should be classified as a disease, warranting the need for specialized treatment.
Although Tarcísio claims that 20% of Brazilians’ income is now spent on gambling, he did not specify the source of this statistic. He is advocating for the establishment of a comprehensive, accessible, and digitized national program focused on addressing gambling addiction.
“We were effective in getting people off tobacco,” he stated. “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 escalation of online betting has sparked not only economic discussions but also moral, social, and electoral debates. Tarcísio’s views resonate with recent criticisms voiced by President Lula, highlighting a shared concern over the implications of gambling.
Industry representatives have acknowledged that they anticipate being a focal point of scrutiny throughout the election campaign. In a recent conversation with iGaming Business, Plínio Lemos Jorge emphasized, “The industry will have to remain resilient during this period.” The president of the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) is hopeful that, following this challenging time, the market will become less targeted for criticism.
