Brazil's IAA suspends gambling support services indefinitely over funding cuts

The Instituto de Apoio ao Apostador (IAA) suspended its support services and help rooms from 21 October for an indefinite period, according to an official notice from the organisation. The IAA attributed the decision to reduced resources that it said had compromised its operational continuity. The organisation said the interruption is intended to enable an institutional restructuring.

The IAA said the measure aims to preserve the quality and safety of the support it provides to the public it serves. It said it has begun a transition period to guide people in follow-up care or in need of referral, and that its team will explain the care options available during this phase. The alternatives it listed are care at Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) linked to the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), Centros de Atenção Psicossocial (CAPS), the O Meu SUS Digital application and mutual support groups of Jogadores Anônimos. The IAA also made available a registration form for a waiting list with updates on a possible resumption of services.

The IAA gave no date for resuming activities and said further decisions will be shared once they are available. In its notice, the institute acknowledged that the suspension may cause doubt, concern and sadness, particularly among those with whom it had built a relationship. It described its spaces as places of welcome where people could share experiences without judgement, and thanked those who had trusted its work over the years, restating a commitment to conduct the transition with transparency, respect and care.