Changes, yes, but no radical measures. The Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) supports changes such as facial biometrics and detailed registrations, which include proof of income. Regarding the prohibition of advertising or bonuses that encourage new bets, Andre Gelfi, president of IBJR, is instructive: "Everything you prevent in the formal betting market will help strengthen informal sites and apps, which will continue to exist."
To UOL, Gelfi details what more can be done to minimize the negative effects of these services.
Rules in advertising, yes, but no prohibition
Andre Gelfi insists on the advertisements for bets, but says they, like those of any other economic sector, need to follow rules to avoid manipulations and abuses against consumers. He also criticizes influencer advertising.
“We indeed defend that limitations on advertisements are necessary and, for this, everyone needs to understand what is happening in the betting market to make adjustments. We want to facilitate these new rules, through dialogue. We have a very immature market today, and the challenge is to bring it into formality. That's why regulation is so important”.
“Limiting advertising is valid. It is necessary to follow the rules of the National Council for Advertising Self-Regulation (Conar). Now, if the government decides to prohibit commercials, there are some risks. To get a customer from informal bets, which do not follow rules, and bring them into formality, you need advertising”, analyzes Gelfi.
“From an economic perspective, we need to think that football today has as its main source of funding the sponsorships from bets. Media groups also sell their packages to betting companies. In other words, there is a whole economic movement that happens from this market. So, in my mind, direct prohibition, in a country where the industry is new, and where there is still a lack of knowledge to separate the wheat from the chaff, seems like a premature solution”.
“Rules are necessary to prevent abuses. It is necessary to curb, for example, influencers who use their channels to advertise bets without following any rules, deceiving the public with false winners and promising large profits with bets. I think it is fundamental for platforms to engage in monitoring these contents and take down these accounts, if necessary”.
Bonuses should exist, but need to be well used
The bonuses, advertisements with promotions, and suggestions of bets with high gains, are pointed out as culprits for excesses and addiction. The president of IBJR is against the prohibition of these pieces, but says they need to be used cautiously by companies.
“Indeed, poorly employed bonuses can bring undesirable consequences for the dynamics of the relationship of the bettor with the betting house. But commercial measures of loyalty, of recurring relationship with customers, we understand that they have to be placed within a broader aspect. Especially since everything you prevent in the formal market of bets, will help strengthen the informal sites and apps, which will continue to exist”, assures Gelfi.
“The regulation makes it clear that bonuses that entice you to open an account are not allowed. A bonus for the first deposit, which is how we call it in the industry. But the commercial promotions that you offer to your customers, I understand that would be an excessive control measure within the activity, because you have other ways to avoid excesses, such as monitoring usage time, excessive spending, and other measures”.
Minors cannot bet at all
Gelfi says that the government ordinance, which will be adopted in 2025, completely bans all chances of a minor betting. “Children and adolescents cannot bet, of course. And this already does not happen in our bets, in the more serious apps”, he clarifies.
“This will be completely banned in the regulation, starting January 1st, which requires facial recognition of the user. The person logs in and when they are going to make a bet, they will be asked to do facial recognition, just like banks do here in Brazil. You will have the crossing of that profile with the face of that user. Then you know that CPF is over 18 years old and that the person who is logging in is indeed the person who opened the account and presented the documentation”.
“It will be practically impossible for a minor to make a bet and transact through the site, unless they have this authorization made by their parents”.
Bets already monitor excesses in betting
According to Andre Gelfi, the most serious companies already control the actions of each user and have procedures to prevent people from betting beyond their income and turning bets into a serious financial problem.
“Today it is already possible to detect that a person is betting beyond what they can afford by observing the user's behavior. If they are depositing an amount that is not consistent with their income, we have a policy of asking for proof of income, even to know if there is not a money laundering issue, if the amount exceeds R$ 10,000”.
“Today, in the registration that is done, I do not know what your income is. I will only know if you present your documentation. Then, if you exceed a certain limit, each company has its limit, you will be contacted to present that documentation and your account will be temporarily blocked”, explains.
“If we identify that a client has exceeded their limit, we have several ways to notify that person that they can no longer bet. Through a phone call, an SMS or WhatsApp message, they will be informed that there will be a temporary block until they contact us”.
“Today you have many credit bureaus that pass you the profile of that CPF. They give you the score, habits of movement and things that help you identify a behavior that is out of the ordinary and has ceased to be healthy. We will not have all the user's data at first, but many informations, for sure”, concludes Gelfi.
Source: UOL
