Brazilian betting regulation debate draws criticism of anti-betting campaign
Regulation1 min read
A Portuguese-language opinion article argues that Brazil should address betting through evidence-based regulation rather than calls to prohibit it. It says fixed-odds betting regulation required more than 100 documents from operators and included identity checks, financial controls, anti-money-laundering measures, age restrictions and taxation. The author also says the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets had proposed a consultation to tighten oversight.
According to the author, Paula Lavigne is taking part with First Lady Janja in a campaign against betting, summed up by the slogan "Bets Nunca Mais" (Bets Never Again). The same piece holds that public policy should be built on evidence, proportionality and regulatory capacity instead of slogans or selective convictions.
In 2017 Caetano Veloso recorded a video, which Paula Lavigne published, calling for all drugs to be legalised. The reasoning was that a state unable to stop consumption should regulate and tax the activity and take room away from the clandestine market. The author asks why that reasoning should not even be considered for betting, while stating that drugs and betting are not identical activities.
Weeks before the Provisional Measure (MP) was issued, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) had put forward a public consultation, the author says. It aimed to adjust procedures so that oversight would be stricter, and to revise parameters, including how games are shown.
The author acknowledges problems in the market, citing operators that violated rules and vulnerable consumers. In the author's view, this justifies improving regulation, sanctioning offenders and protecting those who need protection.