Self-exclusion from betting accounts reaches 326 registered users and generates controversy over misuse of betting platform.
The Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency of the Republic (SECOM/PR) announced this Friday (December 27th) that 326,000 Brazilians used the Centralized Self-Exclusion Platform to close their registrations with betting sites. Coincidentally, the announcement came after a meeting between representatives of SECOM/PR and the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance. Sector experts question the political trivialization of the tool created to combat gambling addiction. This number is equivalent to less than 1,4% of the registered bettors (if all are registered).
Several experts question whether the people who signed up for the self-exclusion program of the Ministry of Finance's Prizes and Betting Secretariat are actually gamblers. "I believe the data is correct, but I have a slight feeling that many of these registrants never even registered with any operator. It's more of a 'protest vote' or confusion with the tool, thinking it won't 'receive betting communications '. A strong indication of this action," commented an executive in the sector.
The system allows users to block registration on different betting platforms with a single request. Those who join the program stop receiving advertisements from the sector.
Questions about the use of the tool
One of the indicators reinforcing suspicions about the nature of the registrations is the initiative of the São Paulo Football Federation, which instructed referees and affiliated clubs to register in the federal self-exclusion system for betting sites. The platform was launched by the federal government in December 2025. Registration prevents registered CPF numbers (Brazilian taxpayer IDs) from accessing online betting sites and receiving related advertising. For the clubs, the guidance remains a recommendation.
The Brazilian Football Confederation implemented a similar procedure before the start of the Brazilian Championship. The organization instructed the 72 referees of the first group of professionals to register their CPF numbers (Brazilian taxpayer identification numbers) in the exclusion system.
Brazilian law prohibits individuals capable of influencing sporting results from placing bets. This prohibition covers athletes, referees, managers, and officials. The FPF's (São Paulo Football Federation) guidance aims to ensure compliance with this legal requirement through technological tools.
"It's a 'fight against betting ' campaign, meaning that many of those who register probably haven't even placed a bet. They've heard that they're protected if they register on this site. Similar to that exclusion list for your phone number so you don't get contacted by telemarketers ," commented another industry executive.
The tool offers different blocking periods.
Registration is done through a specific government website. The user defines the self-exclusion period, choosing between options of indefinite time or periods of one, three, six, nine, or 12 months. During the selected period, the registered CPF (Brazilian taxpayer ID) is prevented from accessing betting environments.
The second stage of registration, which is optional, asks about the reasons that led to the decision to self-exclude. The Executive branch stated that this information helps in understanding the factors that lead people to distance themselves from the betting environment.
Consequences of the blockade
Those who use the platform have their accounts closed on all betting sites in Brazil. The user is prevented from creating new accounts. The person stops receiving targeted advertising from betting sites.
Concern about the tool being misused.
“This, to me, is being used disproportionately and inappropriately of an extremely sensitive and strategic tool for the sector: self-exclusion. I understand that self-exclusion is not a generic tool, nor should it be treated as such. It was conceived exclusively for the protection of people susceptible to or already affected by pathological gambling disorder, functioning as a mechanism for care, risk mitigation, and public health. Transforming self-exclusion into a piece of broad communication or government propaganda, encouraging anyone to use it without adequate contextualization, without explaining its clinical and preventive purpose, and without clear criteria, generates serious risks of distorting the tool,” commented one expert.
“Self-exclusion in the betting market was conceived as a specific instrument to protect vulnerable people or those at risk of pathological gambling, with a preventive and public health character. The most appropriate course of action is to focus on defending the correct use of self-exclusion, avoiding its trivialization and preserving the integrity of a sensitive and strategic mechanism,” another expert responded.
Government warns about risks.
In the publication, the Executive warned about the dangers associated with gambling. “ Gambling is not an investment. Gambling can lead to addiction and result in financial loss, family problems, and mental health issues. If gambling has stopped being a form of entertainment and has started causing harm, it’s time to stop,” the text states.
The Federal Government has announced that people showing signs of addiction can seek treatment in the public health system. The SUS (Unified Health System) offers specialized care for these cases.
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Coordination between government agencies
The dissemination of this agenda is being led by SECOM/PR. This Friday's post (December 27th) was preceded by a meeting between representatives of SECOM/PR and the Prizes and Betting Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance.
On Tuesday (December 24th), the Acting Secretary of Prizes and Betting at the Ministry of Finance, Daniele Correa Cardoso, met at the Ministry of Finance headquarters with representatives from SECOM/PR to discuss the Regulation of Fixed-Odds Betting. BNLData does not confirm that this specific topic was discussed at the meeting.
The following public officials participated in the meeting: Daniele Correa Cardoso, Deputy Secretary of the Prizes and Betting Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance; Fabio Augusto Macorin, Undersecretary of Monitoring and Inspection of the Ministry of Finance; Nina Fernandes dos Santos, Deputy Secretary of the Digital Policies Secretariat of the Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency of the Republic; Bruna Cecília Serra Reis, Advisor to the Ministry of Finance; and Leticia Pereira de Alcantara, Advisor to the Presidency of the Republic.
