Mato Grosso Committee Advances Gambling Addiction Prevention Bill Amid Federal Crackdown

A legislative committee in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso has signaled its support for a bill designed to address the rising issue of gambling addiction. The Health, Social Security and Social Assistance Committee issued a favorable opinion on Bill No. 106/2024, which would establish a state-level program focused on prevention, support, and treatment for those affected by problem gambling. The move comes as sports betting and online gambling continue to expand across the country.

The bill now moves to the full Mato Grosso State Assembly for further legislative debate before it can be enacted into law. If approved, it would create a formal framework for tackling addiction in the state, reflecting growing concern over the social impact of gambling.

On the federal front, the government recently introduced a fresh set of advertising restrictions targeting licensed online betting operators. Announced by Finance Minister Dario Durigan, the measures take effect on July 17 and mandate that all advertisements from authorized operators carry prominent consumer warnings. These warnings must state that gambling can lead to addiction, may cause financial harm, and should not be considered an investment.

The new rules also ban promotional campaigns that depict betting as a quick way to make money or create a false sense of urgency to encourage participation. Additionally, commentators, experts, and influencers are prohibited from leveraging their credibility to promote betting activity.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Justice announced the formation of a dedicated working group tasked with determining how operators should be penalized for violating consumer protection rules. Operating under the National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon), the task force will run for an initial 90-day period and is expected to propose criteria for sanctions against licensed operators that engage in practices such as misleading advertising.