Health Committee approves national strategy to address the impacts of gambling and betting.

The Health Committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill that creates a national strategy with rules for caring for people affected by gambling and betting addiction, especially in the digital environment.

The text envisions a support network between different areas of government to address the social and health impacts of gambling addiction – a behavioral disorder that prevents individuals from controlling the urge to gamble.

Among other points, the strategy ensures:

⇒ Medical, psychological, psychiatric, and social support for individuals and their families;

⇒ Support groups based on lived experience, which increases adherence to treatment;

⇒ Public campaigns and educational materials, with a special focus on the protection of children and adolescents;

⇒ cooperation with betting operators to detect risky behavior, and

⇒ priority in emergency care related to injuries caused by gambling.

The committee approved the version of the rapporteur, Deputy Jandira Feghali (PCdoB-RJ), for Bill 4583/24 , by Deputy Ruy Carneiro (Pode-PB).

One of the main changes was transforming the original "National Program" into a National Strategy for Comprehensive Care. According to Feghali, the term "strategy" offers greater flexibility in public management, avoiding rigid administrative structures and allowing the integration of actions into existing health and assistance networks.

The new text also changes the way people affected by gambling are referred to. Instead of using the expression "people with gambling addiction," the bill now uses "people with needs arising from gambling and betting practices." She further argued that the new approach allows the government to act even before a person receives a clinical diagnosis of gambling addiction.

"The project addresses an urgent and sensitive public health issue, as it deals with the harmful consequences of gambling and betting, a phenomenon amplified by the ease of the digital environment," said the rapporteur.

Next stages

The proposal will still be analyzed, in a conclusive manner, by the Finance and Taxation Committee; and the Constitution, Justice and Citizenship Committee.

To become law, the text must be approved by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. ( Agência Câmara Notícias )