This last Monday (14), Geraldo Alckmin, vice-president and minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, participated in the Roda Viva program. The interview also discussed the betting sector, and the measures that the federal government intends to adopt on the topic.
According to the minister and vice-president, regulation is fundamental, so much so that his statement was clear: ““I think it will be done well and will have results. But, if necessary, we will prohibit it.”
Alckmin presents measures proposed by the government
During the conversation, Alckmin highlighted the concern about the impacts of betting on the economy and society. “What is being done to prevent abuse? We are reaching R$80 billion in resources that could go to consumption, could go to investment and end up being directed to the game”, he stated.
Alckmin detailed measures that the government is studying to deal with betting, highlighting the ban on the use of credit cards on betting sites as a priority. “The first measure is the form of payment,” he stated.
Another action mentioned is the legalization of betting, which must be accompanied by stricter control. Since last Friday (11), Anatel has been authorized to take down around 2 thousand domains. However, it is important to highlight that some were affiliate sites and even those in the media sector.
Furthermore, the vice president criticized misleading advertising that promises quick enrichment through betting. “It is not possible to have advertising saying that you are investing and will become rich, a millionaire”, he added.
One of the most delicate points addressed by Alckmin was the issue of ludopathy, which refers to addiction to gambling. “Addiction isn’t just about winning, it’s about playing. Even the one who wins continues playing. There needs to be regulation”, he emphasized.
Concern for the population’s mental health is fundamental to the government’s proposals. Therefore, betting regulation aims to control the market and protect citizens from the risks of excessive gambling.
Betting data
But this is not the first time that the vice president has spoken out about the online gaming and betting sector. This time, the National Confederation of Commerce in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC) entered the debate.
The entity stated that sports betting, in addition to being responsible for the debt of many families, also harms retail. Therefore, the Attorney General’s Office (AGU) asked the federal government to take a position on the matter.
So, to show that the CNC’s concerns were unfounded, the Ministry of Development brought data showing the growth of retail trade. In other words, IBGE statistics precisely indicate a robust performance in the sector.
The numbers demonstrate significant growth, reflecting the resilience of retail in the face of changes in consumer behavior. Therefore, below is some relevant data presented by the department led by Alckmin:
- 0.6% increase in sales from June to July 2024.
- Accumulated increase of 5.3% in the 1st half of 2024.
- 3.7% increase in sales from July 2023 to July 2024.
It is worth noting that the Brazilian regulated sports betting and online gaming market will come into force on January 1, 2025.
