Advancement of Brazil’s Gambling Care Policy

(AsiaGameHub) –   The proposal aims to establish a national strategy focused on mitigating gambling-related harm and fostering collaboration among sectors including health, social support, and education.

Brazil.- The Constitution, Justice and Citizenship Commission (CCJ) of the Chamber of Deputies, a standing committee tasked with assessing the constitutionality and legality of legislative proposals, has given the green light to a draft law designed to implement a national policy dedicated to supporting individuals and families impacted by gambling in Brazil.

The proposal’s text outlines the creation of a National Strategy for the Comprehensive Care of Individuals with Needs Related to Gaming and Betting. Its goals are to prevent and minimize the adverse effects of gambling while enhancing social protection and reintegration for those affected by problematic play.

The approved version stipulates collaboration across areas such as health, social assistance, and education to broaden support for people grappling with gambling dependency.

Since the proposal was analyzed conclusively, the project can now proceed directly to the Federal Senate pending no objections raised during the plenary session of the Chamber. For it to become law, approval from both chambers of the National Congress is still required.

As reported by Agência Câmara, the adopted proposal is a revised version presented by the Finance and Tax Commission, substituting the original Draft Law 4583/24 authored by deputy Ruy Carneiro. The rapporteur at CCJ, Laura Carneiro, endorsed the new version, noting that it preserves the core aims of the initial project.

According to the rapporteur, the initiative addresses a matter of “growing social and health significance,” linked to concerns about the effects of the newly regulated gambling market on mental health, the family unit, and vulnerable populations.

Carneiro highlighted that the number of services within the Unified Health System (SUS) dealing with pathological gambling has risen markedly in recent years. Parliament data indicates cases grew from 108 in 2018 to 1,200 in 2023, a surge occurring prior to the regulation of the gambling sector at the start of the previous year.