Brazil: New bill to ban online gambling is being promoted

Ban online betting and gambling throughout Brazil. This is what the bill (PL) 4.031/2024, presented by Senator Sérgio Petecão (PSD-AC) on October 21, proposes. The text excludes the prohibition of the federal lottery and determines that only physical bets should be allowed, with the purchase of printed tickets.

In justifying the proposal, Petecão cited concerns about mental health and the possible indebtedness of the population, as well as the access of minors to gambling. 

"If the bill is approved, both sports betting and the various types of online casinos will be prohibited. I propose to amend Law 14.790, of 2023 so that the practice of betting by virtual means is prohibited in Brazilian territory," the senator argued.

"According to the bill, bets placed in person at physical service points, through the delivery to the bettor of a printed ticket, remain legal. This preserves the commercial structure and regulatory framework provided for in Law 14.790/2023, except the prohibition of virtual betting," he added.

Under Petecão's initiative, Internet connection and Internet application providers will be required to block websites and exclude applications that offer fixed odds betting.

The bill - which has yet to be debated and is awaiting approval in the Senate - joins a series of initiatives presented in recent weeks that seek to restrict fixed-odds betting. This trend had already been pointed out by the head of the government, Senator Jaques Wagner (PT-BA).

"Now there's going to be a profusion of [bills]. I know them. How does it work? A problem arises and all the parliamentarians want to show up saying 'I suggested this.' The Brazilian legislative process is never as fast as it should be. But it's welcome. Good ideas will be used, even by the federal government," he said in an interview with SBT's Perspectivas program earlier this month.

Bill 4.031/2024 can be read in full at this link.