The Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro State has approved legislation setting mental health care guidelines for people with disorders linked to compulsive electronic gaming and gambling.
Bill 6,343/25 passed its second reading on Wednesday, 14 October, and now goes to the state government and Governor Cláudio Castro has up to 15 working days to sanction or veto it.
The bill was introduced by state deputy Fred Pacheco, with co-authors Carlos Macedo and Tia Ju It aims to improve access to specialized treatment and support for those affected.
Care would involve a multidisciplinary team that could include psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers, as well as other specialists where needed. The guidelines also provide for prevention and awareness initiatives, therapeutic follow-up, and psychological, social and educational support for patients and their families.
Recently, the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice warned that the number of lawsuits involving online betting in the state has increased by 1,087% in two years.
“The compulsive use of electronic games and gambling can have serious consequences not only for mental health, but also for that person’s social and financial life”, highlighted Pacheco.
"Many people, including low-income people, end up compromising their livelihood and losing control over their finances,” added Tia Ju.
“We want to offer these people the opportunity to break out of this cycle of dependence and get back to their lives."
The legislation also encourages cooperation with universities, research centres and hospitals to improve professional training and expand research into these disorders.
If enacted, the guidelines could help the state executive develop treatment protocols, educational materials, training programs and academic partnerships, besides supporting the collection of patient data to inform public mental health policy
