Brazil advances national gambling addiction support policy

Brazil’s Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) has approved a bill establishing a National Policy for Comprehensive Support for Individuals and Families Affected by Gambling and Betting Practices.

The proposal, originally introduced by Congressman Ruy Carneiro, creates a national framework focused on prevention, psychological and psychiatric treatment, social assistance and reintegration measures for individuals affected by gambling addiction, known in Brazil as ludopatia.

As the bill advanced through Congress under a conclusive procedure, it may now proceed directly to the Senate unless lawmakers request a full floor vote in the Chamber of Deputies.

The approved text would integrate the new strategy into Brazil’s public healthcare system (SUS), social assistance network and the country’s Psychosocial Care Network.

Among the measures included are awareness campaigns, prevention programs aimed at children and adolescents, multidisciplinary treatment and social support initiatives for vulnerable families impacted by gambling-related harm.

The proposal also establishes mechanisms for cooperation between regulators, healthcare authorities and betting operators.

Under the text approved by the CCJ, licensed operators could be required to participate in risk-detection initiatives and provide anonymized data to support epidemiological studies and public policy development, while complying with Brazil’s data protection legislation.

Laura Carneiro, an official for the bill within the committee, described gambling-related harm as an issue of “growing social and health relevance.”

The bill’s author, Ruy Carneiro, stated that treatment demand linked to pathological gambling within Brazil’s public health system increased from 108 cases to approximately 1,200 between 2018 and 2023.

As reported by the country’s Ministry of Health, between 2018 and 2025, the number of consultations in SUS related to pathological gambling and betting problems increased 104%.