Tarcísio de Freitas, the current governor of São Paulo and a candidate for re-election, expressed his views during a debate, asserting that Brazil must put an end to gambling. This statement marks his alignment with a growing trend among influential politicians who are voicing their concerns over sports betting as they seek conservative votes.
With a significant possibility of continuing his tenure at the Palácio dos Bandeirantes, de Freitas noted, “Either Brazil ends betting, or betting ends Brazil. We have to understand that this is a health problem.” He made this remark at the "Health Dialogues" debate hosted by the Union of Hospitals, Clinics and Laboratories of São Paulo (SindHosp).
The rapid rise of online betting platforms has turned Brazil into one of the world's biggest markets for gambling. However, de Freitas warns that this trend has evolved from mere entertainment to a pressing public health issue requiring immediate action.
He has frequently drawn parallels between today's online gambling and the anti-smoking campaigns of previous decades, claiming that addiction should be recognized as an illness, with specialized care provided by the state.
While advocating for a comprehensive, accessible, and digital national program to address gambling addiction, he claimed, “20% of Brazilians’ income is committed to gambling,” although he did not disclose the source of this statistic.
“We were effective in getting people off tobacco,” he explained. “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 transcends economic implications; it has ignited moral, social, and political debates as well. De Freitas's comments resonate with recent critiques made by President Lula, who has also expressed concerns regarding betting.
The industry representatives are aware that they will face scrutiny during the electoral campaign. In a recent interview with iGaming Business, Plínio Lemos Jorge remarked, "The industry will have to remain resilient during this period.” He added that the president of the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) anticipates that “after this turbulent period, the market tends to become less of a target for criticism.”
