Starting October 1, fixed-odds betting companies, also called bets, that have not yet requested authorization to operate in the country will have their operations suspended. The suspension will be in effect until the company files an application and the Prizes and Betting Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance grants permission.
The measure is contained in an ordinance from the Ministry of Finance published this Tuesday (17) in Official Gazette of the Union. The company that applied for the license, but was not yet operating, will have to continue to wait to start operations in January, if the ministry authorizes the activity.
In the morning, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad announced that the government will conduct a thorough review of the regulation of electronic betting. He said that psychological dependence on betting has become a serious social problem.
“[A regulamentação] has to do with the pandemic [de apostas eletrônicas] “This is a problem that is established in the country and that we have to start facing, which is the issue of psychological dependence on games,” said Haddad. “The objective of the regulation is to create conditions so that we can provide support. This has to be treated as entertainment, and any and all forms of dependence have to be combated by the State.”
According to Haddad, the ministry will rigorously analyze the impact of gamblers’ debt on the economy, the use of credit cards to pay for bets, advertising with artists and digital influencers and sponsorship of bets.
“In the coming weeks, all of this will undergo a very rigorous fine-tooth comb, because the aim of the law is to do what was not done during the four years of the previous government. This has become a serious social problem and we will address this problem appropriately,” added the minister.
Police operations
In a statement, the Secretary of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance, Regis Dudena, informed that the suspension of bets that did not request authorization will serve as a temporary instrument to separate serious companies from those that act criminally, especially after recent police operations.
“Many police operations involving companies that operate in the betting market in a criminal manner have come to light. This was the way we found to not wait until January to start separating the wheat from the chaff,” explained Dudena. “We want to protect the mental, financial and physical health of bettors, preventing the activities of companies that use sports betting and gaming.” online as a means of committing fraud and money laundering.”
According to the Ministry of Finance, 113 have been made so far grant requests in the first phase of licensing. Since each license costs R$30 million, the government would have R$3.3 billion available next year. Starting in January, authorized betting houses that pay the fee will be able to operate up to three brands for five years.
