São Paulo, the capital of the state of the same name, has registered 114 individuals seeking treatment for problem gambling through the public health system (SUS), including both the Basic Health Units and the Psychological Attention Centers.
In 2024, 67 people sought gambling-related treatments, up from 35 in 2023, representing a 91% growth in 2025 and signaling a growing issue in the country.
Demand has also grown at the Gambling Outpatient Program of the Institute of Psychiatry at the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, which also offers free of charge treatment.
The center treated 66 patients in 2023, however, in 2024, new intakes were suspended due to the high demand as the number of registered patients rose to 191.
The treatment still remains suspended up with a waiting list of 285 people.
"We have a long waiting list. We are creating a task force but it is extremely complicated because the demand is very high," warned psychologist Edilson Braga, researcher at the Gambling Outpatient Program.
"We are sitting on a ticking time bomb and it is going to explode. SUS will not be able to cope, there are not enough professionals for this."
At the Institute, the first stage of the program provides information and support to those on the waiting list via four online meetings.
Then, patients undergo a protocol with psychodiagnostic assessment before being admitted into the main treatment program.
"Simultaneously, the patient goes to group or individual psychotherapy, which lasts around six months. Afterwards, they continue with the doctors and go to other types of groups, such as quality of life and physical education, to continue the support," said Braga.
Brazilian Government has recently prohibited social welfare beneficiaries from accessing online gambling platforms
