Brazil enforces betting ban for social welfare beneficiaries
New rules require operators to block Bolsa Família and BPC recipients from online betting platforms.
Key Points
- SPA published new rules prohibiting Bolsa Família and BPC beneficiaries from betting online
- Operators must integrate government database checks at sign-up and login
- Accounts linked to social program recipients must be closed within three days
Brazil’s Secretary of Prizes and Betting (SPA), under the Ministry of Finance, has issued a new regulatory measure requiring betting operators to block access for social welfare recipients.
The move follows a Supreme Federal Court ruling that directed the government to prevent the use of public assistance funds for gambling activity.
The rule applies to beneficiaries of Bolsa Família, the country’s largest conditional cash transfer program, and the Benefit of Continued Payment (BPC), which provides a monthly minimum wage to low-income elderly citizens and people with disabilities.
Together, the two programs cover over 50 million Brazilians.
Operators are now required to consult a centralized government system at two points: during customer registration and at the first login of each day.
If a player is identified as a welfare recipient, their betting account must be closed within three days.
In addition, companies must conduct a complete sweep of their customer bases within 45 days, checking all registered CPFs against government records.
Good to know: SPA has partnered with the Digital Council of Brazil to block illegal betting ads
Betting operators will not receive personal data directly but must rely on the central verification system to ensure compliance.
SPA Secretary Regis Dudena said the measure is intended to ensure that social assistance is used solely for basic needs and not redirected into gambling activity.
“Operators will have to consult the system to guarantee that beneficiaries cannot deposit money,” he explained.
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