ANJL questions the blocking of online betting on Desenrola 2 and points out contradictions.

The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) released a statement regarding the Desenrola 2 package announced by President Lula. The organization represents sports betting companies in Brazil. It acknowledges the Federal Government's intention but points out contradictions in the measure.

Recent studies by Pay4Fun and LCA Consultoria show that gambling expenses are not among the main burdens on the Brazilian family budget. ANJL highlights that high interest rates on revolving credit card debt and overdraft facilities are the main causes of indebtedness among the population.

A practical example exposes inconsistencies.

The association presents a scenario to illustrate the contradictions. A citizen with R$20 in credit card debt who bets R$50 per month will have their access to the platforms blocked if they join the program. The same debtor will maintain access to credit lines from banks and financial institutions with higher interest rates.

The block will only apply to the 84 operators authorized by the Ministry of Finance. The measure does not cover lotteries or the illegal betting market.

ANJL considers it likely that bettors blocked on legal platforms will seek out the thousands of clandestine websites operating in the country. This movement would strengthen the illegal market, which has no commitment to the financial and mental health of bettors.

The association is evaluating the measure and its impacts. ANJL emphasizes that online betting and gaming should not be understood as a way to make easy money or as an investment. The organization considers the measures to combat this misconception to be positive.

ANJL argues that initiatives should be adopted following logical parameters. Actions should aim at the well-being of the gambler and maintain proportionality in relation to the true causes of indebtedness among the Brazilian population.

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ANJL's statement regarding President Lula's announcement about Desenrola 2.

The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), which represents betting in the country, reports that it positively assesses the Federal Government's intention behind the measure foreseen in the Desenrola 2 package, but draws attention to extremely relevant contradictions in the measure.

As several studies have shown, such as those recently released by Pay4Fun and LCA Consultoria, the average spending of bettors in Brazil is not, by any means, among those that most compromise their family budget.

The main causes of indebtedness, which also affect consumption in other areas, are the extremely high interest rates that the Brazilian population pays, mainly on revolving credit card debt and overdraft facilities.

In this sense, just to illustrate an example, a citizen who has R$ 20 in credit card debt, but has the habit of gambling an average of R$ 50 per month, will suffer this block if they join the program. This same debtor, however, will continue to have access to various credit lines, with even higher interest rates, from banks and financial institutions.

Another impact of this measure is that the block will only affect the 84 betting operators authorized by the Ministry of Finance, without considering modalities such as lotteries and the illegal market. Those who have a habit of betting do not usually interrupt it completely. Therefore, it is very likely that this bettor, blocked for 1 year on legalized sites, will seek one of the thousands of clandestine sites that still exist in the country. This would strengthen the illegal market, which, in fact, has no commitment to the financial and mental health of bettors.

Given this, ANJL states that it is evaluating the measure and its impacts, but reinforces its understanding that online betting and gaming should not be seen as a way to make easy money or as an investment. Measures to curb this perception among some bettors are welcome, but only if adopted following logical parameters and aiming at the effective well-being of the bettor and in a manner proportional to the actual causes of the population's indebtedness.