More than 5 million Brazilians are banned from gambling, says the Treasury.
More than 5 million Brazilians are prevented from placing bets on betting platforms in the country, according to Finance Minister Dario Durigan. The statement was made this Thursday (August 13).
The number encompasses distinct groups affected by restrictions of different origins. Approximately 3 million are beneficiaries of Bolsa Família or the Continuous Benefit Payment (BPC), social programs whose registered individuals are prohibited from accessing the platforms. Another 1,2 million people voluntarily requested their own exclusion from betting. The remaining 800 joined Novo Desenrola, a federal debt renegotiation program; according to the program's rules, those who join cannot place bets online for at least six months.
Durigan also reported that the Treasury did not include in this total other groups equally prohibited from gambling. Among them are public officials working in the betting sector, professional athletes, referees, sports managers, inspectors or technicians, and people diagnosed with gambling addiction.
Transparency in authorization processes
The minister announced that the Treasury will begin providing transparency to all betting authorization processes starting this Thursday (August 13). The publication will be done gradually; for now, the processes relating to companies already authorized to operate have been released.
Durigan said that "we've reached a total of more than 5 million people prevented, hindered, excluded from gambling in Brazil in this commitment to treat betting like cigarettes, discouraging gambling in the country."
Operation Arena and precautionary suspension
The minister also informed that the operating license of the platform involved in Operation Arena was suspended as a precautionary measure. The operation was launched on Wednesday (August 12) by the Federal Police and the Federal Revenue Service.
Regarding the case, Durigan stated that "we already have a precautionary measure suspending the company's authorization, within an ongoing inspection process, with information exchange with other authorities, reinforcing our role." The minister added that, "based on information that the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets – SPA-MF has and the sharing with other authorities, we have been able to enable this fight for the application of criminal law, this criminal fight, which involves money laundering and concealment of assets by these companies."
View this photo on Instagram
