São Paulo governor Tarcísio de Freitas criticises Brazil betting market
São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas said on 17 August that fixed-odds betting had become a health problem in Brazil. He claimed that betting accounted for 20% to 25% of Brazilians’ income, but gave no source for the figures and proposed no specific restriction; he cited a mental-health programme in São Paulo if re-elected.
The governor’s comments add political criticism of betting in Brazil, but do not set out a specific regulatory proposal.