Brazil publishes report with action plan on gambling and mental health

The Brazilian Federal Government has published a final report that outlines measures to strengthen public policies aimed at protecting the mental health of people affected by gambling.

The Interministerial Working Group on Mental Health and Problematic Gambling prepared the document, which also includes an action plan structured around three areas of intervention: prevention, harm reduction and assistance for individuals with persistent and recurrent gambling-related issues. 

It proposes educational actions, professional training and communication strategies to raise awareness of risks associated with gambling.

The report highlights the importance of coordination among government agencies, regulators, and civil society. It recommends measures such as mechanisms for self-exclusion from betting platforms, guidelines for grievance procedures and standardized protocols to ensure that players have access to adequate information and support.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the action plan also emphasizes integration with Brazil’s public health system. The Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS) and Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS) are identified as essential points of reference for providing specialized care to individuals experiencing gambling-related disorders.

The publication of the final report marks the conclusion of the working goup’s mandate, presenting a set of proposals to inform the Government’s broader regulatory agenda.

Good to know: In early September, Brazil’s Interministerial Working Group announced coordinated measures to tackle match-fixing in sports betting

In presenting the report, Regis Dudena, Secretary of Prizes and Betting at the Ministry of Finance, said: “The concrete deliverables of this action plan, after intensive collaboration among ministries, are very relevant steps to address the negative externalities of the betting sector. 

“The proposed actions complement each other, aiming to protect bettors and the popular economy, whether through direct interaction with the market, as tools for multisectoral public policies, in health policies such as self-testing and a centralized self-exclusion platform, in the relationship and care with sports, or in the State’s institutional communication with citizens. It is another step forward for the protection of people and this is our main goal.”

With the report now public, the Government expects the recommendations to guide future legislative debates and administrative actions in the area of mental health and gambling harm reduction.

Carlos Mendez

Writer

Odds tell a story long before the result does. When bettors learn to read that story properly, betting becomes a matter of discipline and value rather than emotion or guesswork.

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