A committee at the Mato Grosso State Legislative Assembly (ALMT) has advanced a bill to create a dedicated program addressing gambling addiction in the state.
The Health, Welfare and Social Assistance Committee reviewed 16 health-related measures during its latest ordinary session, all of which received favorable opinions.
Among them, Bill 106/2024 would establish a State Program to Combat Sports Betting, Casino and Gambling Addiction, aimed at prevention, support and treatment for people affected by gambling dependency, an issue the committee said has grown more relevant amid the expansion of sports betting and online gambling platforms.
The bill comes as Brazil's Ministry of Health reported a nearly 140% increase in demand for mental health services linked to online gambling addiction within the country's public healthcare system (SUS) over the past five years.
The session also advanced Complementary Bill 58/2025, which restructures the composition and functioning of the State Health Council and updates existing legislation, approved under Substitute Text No. 2.
Several other measures focused on mental health more broadly, including a bill which would add monitoring for treatment dropout to the State Mental Health Program, and one which would expand the role of occupational therapists within the state's Psychosocial Care Centers, among other areas.
The Ministry of Health has also launched a free online training program focused on the treatment and prevention of gambling addiction in partnership with the country’s premier public health, science and technology institution.
Brazil's Ministry of Health has launched a Care Guide for People with Gambling-Related Problems, a document guiding the reception, monitoring and treatment of people affected by gambling within SUS
