Immediately after the public hearings on the subject, Minister Luiz Fux of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) decided to prohibit gamblers from using money received through social benefits, such as Bolsa Família and BPC, for example. According to the decision, "immediate measures" must be implemented to prevent the use of funds for such purposes. Additionally, the magistrate also banned the dissemination of advertising targeting children and adolescents.
In a decision published this Wednesday (13), Fux partially and preliminarily accepted the ADIs 7721 and 7723, determining that the Ministry of Finance adopt "immediate measures" to prevent betting with Bolsa Família money and advertising of bets that reach children. In his order, he pointed out that it is about "special protection".
The decision was made after the end of the two-day public hearing convened by him to discuss the operation of bets in Brazil and their impact on society.
In the order, Minister Luiz Fux notes:
“In this vein, the public hearing was held on November 11 and 12, 2024, with the participation of more than 40 (forty) qualified entities, under the decisions dated October 23 and 30, 2024, and November 5 and 12, 2024. Participants included academics, foreign experts, governmental entities, representatives of the Executive Power, the Federal Senate, the Attorney General's Office, Public Defenders, the Brazilian Bar Association, football clubs, and the general public, who contributed to the analysis of the numerous technical issues associated with the listed topics.”
Fux determined that the actions of inspection and monitoring of compliance with what is determined by Ordinance 1231, from the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets have immediate application regarding the prohibition of advertising measures that reach children and adolescents.
Furthermore, the decision determines that the Ministry of Finance adopts measures of “special protection” that prevent participation in online sports betting games with resources received from social and welfare programs, such as Bolsa Família and the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC), intended to guarantee a minimum wage per month to the elderly aged 65 and over or to people with disabilities of any age.
Source: GMB
