Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies held a public hearing this week examining the impact of online betting on elderly citizens, with specialists and government officials warning of rising gambling addiction, debt and mental health issues among older Brazilians.
The hearing, organized jointly by the Human Rights Commission and the Commission for the Defence of the Rights of Elderly People, focused on the effects of betting platforms on pensioners and vulnerable groups.
Public Defender Thaíssa Assunção de Faria described gambling addiction as “the third largest addiction in the country, behind only smoking and alcoholism,” while warning that many elderly users are losing money originally intended for “medication, food and housing.”
Participants repeatedly linked the growth of betting activity among older Brazilians to easier digital access through Brazil’s instant payment method, Pix, and retirement accounts.
According to data presented during the hearing, Brazil’s National Human Rights Ombudsman recorded 17,690 complaints involving financial and patrimonial violence against people aged between 60 and 90 during the first five months of 2026.
Government representatives also defended stronger restrictions on betting advertising, arguing that many campaigns associate gambling with financial success and social belonging.
Daniela Jinkings, representing the Ministry of Social Development, stressed the need for financial education, digital literacy and specialized support through Brazil’s public health and welfare systems when it comes to betting platforms.
The Ministry of Health also confirmed that gambling-related treatment demand among elderly citizens has been increasing. According to ministry data, older adults represent around 7% of emergency and hospital cases linked to gambling-related harm.
Brazil’s Central Bank recently expanded its fraud monitoring framework to include suspected activity linked to unauthorized betting operators
