At the STF, the Minister of Human Rights spoke about a pocket casino; Fux promoted audience
The (Financial Activities Control Council) says that the body recorded an increase in the number of alerts received by FIUs (financial intelligence units) abroad, such as Malta and Gibraltar, countries accused of not combating money laundering and which are headquarters of international bets (online betting companies). The information was highlighted by Rafael Bezerra Ximenes de Vasconcelos, Coaf supervisory director, in a hearing at the (Supreme Federal Court) to debate the betting market in Brazil this Monday (11.Nov.2024).
According to Vasconcelos, suspicious alerts involve bets made by people who do not have an income compatible with the level of bets and politically exposed people.
“In the last 2 years, the number of alerts from foreign FIUs to the Brazilian FIU regarding transactions has drawn attention“he stated.
The director also defended that regulation of the betting sector must take into account international protection standards against money laundering.
Vasconcelos highlights that the betting industry is a sector that is also used to launder money from illicit activities to finance drug trafficking and terrorism.
“This is a sector that involves different risks of using the activity for laundering and related crime“, he declared.
AGU
During the hearing, the Union’s attorney general, Jorge Messias, discussed the regulation of betting. For Messias, the rules are necessary to protect the most vulnerable people.
The attorney general also expressed concern about gambling addiction and said that the behavior is a public health problem. Messias mentioned that studies by the Ministry of Health show that the disorders caused by gaming addiction are similar to the problems caused by chemical substances.
“The consequences of such addiction can be devastating, leading to the deterioration of family ties and the loss of economic stability. Fixed odds betting has silently infiltrated Brazilian homes, mainly reaching low-income families“, he stated.
“POCKET CASINO”
The Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship, Macaé Evaristo, stated that the growth of the betting market causes financial ruin for Brazilian families and encourages compulsive behavior.
“With so-called bets, we are allowing the installation of a casino in the pocket of every Brazilian. The difficulties of our country, still in development, people’s desire for a better future, the lack of economic perspective, end up being fertile ground for desperate and sad bets on games“, he stated.
BETTING VOLUME
During the hearing, Rogerio Antônio Lucca, representative of the BC (Central Bank), re-presented the data released in August this year on the economic size of the betting market in Brazil.
From monitoring the Brazilian payment system, the BC discovered that betting companies received around R$20 billion from 24 million bettors, who have a profile of 20 to 40 years old.
Figures from the agency also show that 5 million Bolsa Família beneficiaries spent around R$3 billion on betting. The average bet was R$100.
Rogério also highlighted that the Central Bank does not have the power to interfere in the betting market, but contributes to providing information on the financial impacts on the Brazilian economy.
“The Central Bank has no jurisdiction over betting activities. The BC’s participation in this debate is to try to shed light on the size of this market, assessment of the impact on financial stability and the development of financial citizenship actions“he stated.
COOL GAME
The IJL (Brazilian Institute of Legal Gaming), represented by Magno José Santos de Sousa, defended the regulation of betting by the federal government. Magno mentioned that there is an invasion of illegal websites that have no responsibility towards bettors.
“It’s not bet’s fault, it’s not sports betting’s fault. The fault of what we are experiencing is the lack of regulation“, he stated.
ANJL (National Association of Games and Lotteries) said that regulated gambling does not cause “harmful effects“ of addiction and debt. Pietro Cardia Lorenzoni, representative of the entity, also contested the impact of betting on retail.
“The ADI, if accepted, ends up, contrary to its objective, doing what it seeks to avoid, which is encouraging pathological gambling, illegal gambling“he stated.
AUDIENCE
The hearing was called by Minister Luiz Fux, rapporteur of the process that deals with the issue. Based on the presentations, the minister will prepare the vote and release the process for judgment. The voting date has not been set.
The process that motivates the debate was filed with the Court by the CNC (National Confederation of Commerce in Goods, Services and Tourism).
The entity questions the rule that regulated fixed odds online betting. In the ADI (direct unconstitutionality action), the CNC says that the legislation, by promoting the practice of gambling, causes negative impacts on less favored social classes. Furthermore, the entity cites the increase in family debt.
With information from .
