Alckmin announces new restrictions for online betting in meeting with retailers: "there will be further tightening"
Vice President Geraldo Alckmin reiterated that the federal government will adopt new restrictions for betting platforms. onlineThe statement was made this Thursday (19) during a meeting with leaders of Brazilian retail, in Brasília.
Those participating in the meeting included João Galassi, president of the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets (ABRAS), Leonardo Miguel Severini, president of the Brazilian Association of Wholesalers and Distributors (ABAD), and a representative from the Brazilian Association of Self-Service Wholesalers (ABAAS). The main objective of the meeting was to thank Alckmin for his support in approving Bill 2158/2023, which authorizes the installation of full pharmacies in supermarkets.
The meeting highlights the retail sector's strategy of holding betting platforms accountable. online due to the decline in consumer market performance and the increase in debt among Brazilian families. The discussion about the bets It has gained prominence on the retail agenda, which is seeking political support for new restrictions on the sector.
Alckmin used his social media to comment on the issues discussed. The vice-president highlighted that the government regulated and taxed the betting sector to bring it out of the shadows. New measures will be implemented to prevent mobile gaming from leading to gambling addiction.
In a post on Instagram, Galassi thanked the vice-president for his support of the pharmacy project. “Mr. President, we are here to thank you for all your dedication and support for the full-service pharmacy project in supermarkets. You, as a doctor and an extremely respected person in the political sphere, know very well the importance of us benefiting the consumer,” stated the president of ABRAS.
Alckmin responded to the expressions of gratitude by detailing the topics discussed. “I would like to thank you for this working meeting. João Gualasi, who presides over Abras, the Abras board, and ABAD. The Senate and the Chamber have already approved the law that allows pharmacies in supermarkets. This makes life easier for the consumer. President Lula should sign the law by Tuesday,” he declared. The presidential signing is expected to take place by March 23rd.
Regarding betting onlineThe vice president added information about the regulation of the sector. "We also discussed the issue of..." bets"They weren't regulated, it was all clandestine. So it was regulated, taxes were applied, and there will be further tightening to prevent this mobile gaming, which is a very worrying thing, leading to gambling addiction," Alckmin stated.
The vice-president mentioned other issues discussed with retail representatives. “We also talked about the Worker's Food Program. The consumer benefits; it reduces expensive intermediaries, helps with pricing, helps workers, and other topics of interest to the sector. So I send a big hug to ADAS,” he declared. The meeting addressed topics related to the Worker's Food Program.
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Campaign against gambling online generates tension between sectors
In June 2025, ABRAS launched a social media campaign against betting platforms. onlineThe initiative advocated for increased taxation on this segment. The campaign was presented in Brasília during the Brasília event. SummitThe action had the support of Alckmin, who had spoken about the issue the day before the event.
The organization produced an institutional video criticizing the operation of betting platforms. The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) filed a lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks to compel the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets to explain the origin of the information disseminated on its social media.
ANJL argued that there were no objective elements linking the sector's performance to the regulated betting market.
The lawsuit also questioned the content disseminated by João Galassi through a video. The material linked the worsening of food insecurity in the country to betting houses. ANJL stated that the content propagated by ABRAS uses "generalized and potentially defamatory allegations that go beyond criticism of specific agents and affect the sector as a whole."
In the lawsuit, ANJL contested the allegations that the retail sector lost R$ 103 billion due to gambling. The organization stated that these claims "lack empirical basis." The gaming companies' association presented official data to support its position. "Official data from IBGE shows that retail sales registered growth of 4,7% in 2024, and there are no objective elements linking the sector's performance to the regulated gambling market," ANJL adds in the lawsuit.
Data from the Ministry of Finance
Data from the Ministry of Finance, obtained through the Access to Information Law (LAI), shows that more than half of Brazilian gamblers (53,4%) spend up to R$ 50 per month on sports betting and games. onlineAnother 11,45% of bettors allocate between R$50,01 and R$150 monthly to these platforms. In the R$150,01 to R$300 range, there are 6,4% of users. Meanwhile, 9,4% spend between R$300,01 and R$1 per month. The survey also indicates that 19,5% of bettors spend over R$1 monthly.
The average monthly ticket price for bettors in 2025 was R$ 122,00, according to the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance (SPA-MF). The official figures contrast with claims from the retail sector regarding the impact of betting on household consumption.
Plínio Lemos Jorge, president of ANJL, stated that the retail sector decided to "choose a scapegoat" for the high food prices on families' tables. "In their opinion, the bets They are responsible. It's absurd, because it spreads a fake news "Its objective is to attack a legitimate sector of the economy, which, this year alone, will generate billions in taxes," he declared.
The editor of BNLData presented an analysis on the topic. "In fact, the political and social actors who are currently opposing the..." bets legal, they should be concerned with fighting the bets illegal. To prohibit or limit the operation of bets "It will favor the illegal market. They should think carefully before turning good intentions into new business for organized crime. Anyone who wants to gamble, but can't do it legally, will seek it in the informal market," he stated.
ANJL defends the legitimacy of the regulated gaming market and its tax contribution. The entity disputes the claims of losses presented by the retail sector. The legal conflict between ABRAS and ANJL exposes disagreements about the regulation and economic effects of betting platforms in the country.
