Proposal for national policy on gambling care to advance in Brazil
The proposal would establish a national strategy on gambling harm and promote cooperation between areas such as health, social assistance and education.
Brazil.- The Chamber of Deputies’ Constitution, Justice and Citizenship Commission (CCJ) is a standing committee responsible for analysing the constitutionality and legality of legislative proposals, has approved a draft law that would create a national policy aimed at the care of people and families affected by gambling in Brazil.
The text of the proposal would establish a National Strategy for the Comprehensive Care of People with Needs related to Gaming and Betting. It would aim to prevent and reduce gambling harm and increase social protection and reinsertion for people impacted by pathological play.
The approved text provides for cooperation between areas such as health, social assistance and education to expand support for people affected by dependence on gambling.
As the proposal was analysed conclusively, the project will be able to advance directly to the Federal Senate if there is no appeal for a vote in the plenary session of the Chamber. To enter into force, the text still needs to be approved by both houses of the National Congress.
As published by Agência Câmara, the proposal approved is a substitute presented by the Finance and Tax Commission to the Draft Law 4583/24 authored by deputy Ruy Carneiro. The rapporteur at CCJ, Laura Carneiro, recommended the approval of the new version, which maintains the main objectives of the original project.
According to the rapporteur, the measure seeks to address a question of “increasing social and health relevance”, related to concerns around the impacts of the newly regulated gambling market on mental health, the family environment and vulnerable groups.
Carneiro stated that the number of services in the Unified Health System (SUS) related to pathological gambling has increased significantly in recent years. According to parliament, cases rose from 108 in 2018 to 1,200 in 2023, which was still before the gambling sector was regulated at the start of last year.
