New bill protects social programs from gambling overindebtedness
The proposal promoted by Deputy Hermeto in the Federal District demands payment blocks for social assistance beneficiaries, mandatory financial education in schools, and sanctions of up to 500 minimum wages for operators who fail to comply with the regulations.
The advance of electronic betting in Brazil has motivated a new legislative offensive to protect the most vulnerable sectors of the economy. Deputy Hermeto has presented before the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District the Citizen Protection Program, a comprehensive initiative that seeks to cut at the root the link between hunger, poverty, and problem gambling.
The project is not limited to gambling regulation but proposes a structural reform in the way payments and public health are managed, combining financial prevention with mandatory psychiatric assistance.
The end of using assistance funds for betting
One of the most forceful pillars of the text is the technical prohibition of using payment methods linked to income transfer programs, such as the food plan "Prato Cheio", to place bets. The logic is clear: to ensure that money intended for family subsistence does not end up in the operators' GGR.
Additionally, the project imposes new obligations on banking entities:
- Voluntary blocking: Financial institutions managing salary or benefit accounts must offer tools so that users themselves can restrict their transactions with betting houses.
- Advertising control: Ads on transportation and public buildings must carry explicit warnings about addiction risks and economic losses, under penalty of immediate censorship.
Education and Health: The preventive approach
Hermeto’s proposal seeks to tackle the problem from the ground up. It foresees the inclusion of financial education and problem gambling prevention modules both in the public school system and in the Social Assistance Reference Centers (CRAS).
In the health field, the project obliges the public health network to implement specialized care protocols for gambling disorder, ensuring that psychological and psychiatric treatment is an accessible right for those already suffering from addiction.
Sanctions and compliance
The project establishes a regime of severe consequences to ensure compliance. Violations could result in fines ranging from 10 to 500 minimum wages. However, the greatest threat to the sector is the possibility of suspension of the operating license for platforms operating in the Federal District that do not respect the blocks or advertising regulations.
For Deputy Hermeto, the use of assistance resources for betting distorts the purpose of public policies and compromises the nation's food security. If approved, this program would set a precedent of "zero tolerance" regarding the intersection between social assistance and the gambling industry.
Tags: Brasil, Brazil gambling addiction, online betting social plans, blocked social betting plans