Representatives of bookmakers were left out of the Interministerial Working Group (GT) on Mental Health and Prevention and Reduction of Harm from Problem Gambling, created by the Federal Government.
According to the ordinance that determined the members of the GT, representatives from the Ministries of Treasury, Health, Sports and the Secretariat of Communication (Secom) were appointed.
Each department nominated four names, totaling 16 full members, and an equal number of substitutes. Therefore, no space was given to representatives of the online sports betting sector.
Bookmakers charge more participation
The ordinance published by the Minister of Treasury, Fernando Haddad, at the end of February and only included representatives of the Esplanada. However, representatives of the betting sector are demanding more participation.
Furthermore, the main reason for the charge is due to the expectation of a rule that determines the implementation of an integrated self-exclusion system. According to experts, this device would allow a player who decides to self-exclude from a betting site to also be unable to play on other sites.
When the group was officially announced by the Lula government, the Treasury announced that the focus of the GT would be “to develop strategies to prevent, mitigate damage and offer support to individuals and communities affected by compulsive gambling practices or in vulnerable situations, considering the context of fixed-odds betting”.
The GT and its responsibilities
The Interministerial Working Group on Mental Health and Prevention and Reduction of Harm from Problem Gambling emerged as a Federal Government initiative to combat gaming addiction.
Objectives
- Develop an Action Plan to prevent and reduce harm
- Offer assistance to people with risky behavior
- Propose regulatory and administrative strategies
- Coordinate actions with public and private entities
- Monitor and identify risk profiles among bettors
Legal basis
The initiative is based on Law No. 14,790, of December 29, 2023, and Law No. 13,756, of December 12, 2018.