Teresina safeguards youth: online betting risks education law
In a move that aligns municipal management with national responsible gaming policies, the mayor of Teresina, Silvio Mendes, sanctioned on January 12 the Municipal Law No. 6,316/2026. This legislation establishes a permanent awareness campaign in local public schools to prevent children and adolescents from developing risk behaviors associated with fixed-odds betting.
The initiative, originally promoted by councilors Eduardo Draga Alana and Edilberto Borges (Dudu), arises as a response to the increased digital access to gaming platforms and aims to educate about the psychological, social, and financial impacts of early gambling.
A pedagogical and preventive approach
The campaign will focus on transforming educational institutions into spaces for debate and training. Although participation is mandatory for the municipal network, an optional invitation for private schools has been extended.
The program "Aposta Não É Brincadeira" will be developed mainly through:
- Participatory activities: Workshops, discussion circles, and cultural contests.
- Critical thinking: Pedagogical actions designed for students to analyze the influence of social media and digital advertising from betting houses.
- Family involvement: Strategies to guide parents and guardians on how to identify signs of addiction or compulsive behavior in minors.
The authors’ vision: "There is no easy money"
For councilor Eduardo Draga Alana, one of the main promoters of the law, the school environment is the ideal multiplier for this message. "The sanction allows the school to fulfill a vital preventive role. The premise is straightforward: betting is not a way to make easy money and is not an activity for children" commented the parliamentarian after signing the decree.
The law stipulates that actions be intensified preferably during the month of May, allowing the municipality to establish partnerships with health entities and gambling addiction specialists to enrich the informational content.
Impact on the iGaming industry
This type of local legislation is fundamental for the sustainability of the sector in Brazil. A regulated industry depends on a healthy and aware market; initiatives like Teresina’s help to distinguish legal fixed-odds gambling from irresponsible practices, promoting that the activity remains exclusively a form of entertainment for adults.
With the immediate entry into force of the law, Teresina positions itself alongside other Brazilian capitals that are integrating gambling addiction prevention within their education and child protection policies.
Tags: Brasil, Brazil betting regulation, betting education Brazil, responsible gaming Brazil