São Paulo governor Tarcísio de Freitas said Brazil must end betting, speaking at a healthcare debate hosted by the São Paulo Union of Hospitals, Clinics and Laboratories (SindHosp). 'Either Brazil ends betting, or betting will end Brazil. We need to understand that this is a health problem,' he said. De Freitas is running for a second term and expects support from conservative voters.
The governor compared the rise of online betting to the tobacco epidemic of past decades. Betting addiction should be treated as a disease, he argued, and the state must build specialised treatment infrastructure. De Freitas linked the growth of betting to household debt, claiming that '20% of Brazilians' income goes to gambling'.
Brazil has become one of the largest online betting markets in the world. De Freitas is calling for a national programme to treat gambling addiction — accessible, digital, large-scale. 'We were able to wean people off tobacco. The question is whether we can free them from drugs. The challenges are the same now. Perhaps even more serious,' the governor said.
De Freitas' rhetoric echoes recent statements by President Lula, who has also criticised betting. The industry is bracing for attacks during the election campaign. Plínio Lemos Jorge, president of the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), told iGaming Business that 'the sector will have to show resilience during this period'. After the election, he believes, the market will stop being a target.
