Brazil’s National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has criticised the government for excluding regulated betting operators and the sector’s regulator, SPA, from a meeting on the social impact of online betting.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva chaired the September 1 meeting. Representatives from health, culture and economic institutions, civil society and religious organisations took part, while licensed betting companies and the Ministry of Finance’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) were not included.
ANJL president Plínio Lemos Jorge said the discussion could not provide a complete picture of the market without the regulated sector.
“Any serious and responsible debate about the effects of betting platforms must necessarily include regulated operators, who have data, technical expertise and an in-depth understanding of how the market works. Excluding this segment compromises the quality, impartiality and legitimacy of any decisions that may be taken.”
ANJL also challenged some of the information presented during the meeting, arguing that parts of the discussion did not match official data.
The association said any changes to Brazil’s current betting framework should involve regulators, licensed operators and civil society, particularly because those groups would be directly affected by new policies.
ANJL further warned that measures that weaken the regulated market could instead strengthen the illegal betting sector. Licensed operators are subject to requirements covering responsible gambling, protection of minors, excessive indebtedness, advertising and gambling-related harm, while illegal operators are not subject to the same safeguards.
The association plans to request a new government meeting to present the regulated market’s data and position.
Source: BNL Data
