Brazil's Attorney General's Office (AGU) will collect R$ 1 billion from 15 betting companies for gambling addiction.

Brazil's Attorney General's Office (AGU) intends to file a lawsuit against approximately 15 betting companies to recover around R$ 1 billion in public funds spent on treating ludopathy, a disorder caused by compulsive gambling behavior. The lawsuit could reach the courts as early as this Sunday (September 28th) and will be the first in a series against the betting sector.

According to Túlio Amâncio's column on SBT News, the deadline for filing the lawsuit is Tuesday (September 29th). The amount charged would be used to reimburse the Unified Health System (SUS) for costs related to damages caused by gambling addiction.

The selection of the 15 companies was based on data from the Ministry of Health. The ministry identified, among the practices adopted by these betting houses, actions that encouraged gambling addiction. Between 2018 and 2025, the number of cases related to pathological gambling grew by approximately 140%, according to the ministry.

Second action in preparation

This initiative is part of a broader offensive by the federal government against the sector. The Attorney General's Office is also preparing a second lawsuit to hold companies responsible for the debts incurred by gamblers, the so-called over-indebtedness.

This second measure was initially scheduled to be filed this Sunday (September 27th), but the text has not yet been finalized. The action should discuss the direct liability of companies for debts incurred by their users.