Brazilian retailers should go to Brasília to directly address stricter regulations involving the law of online sports betting, valid after 2025, due to a possible effect on the consumption of companies in the sector. The information was released this Thursday by the command of Abras, the country's largest supermarket entity.
The intention is that, due to the urgency of this topic, the issue progresses with politicians in the same way that the controversy of the growth of Asian marketplaces advanced, when an ordinance was published with clearer rules of action, said a source familiar with the topic to Valor.
Valor had already anticipated on Tuesday (27) that among members of Abras and IDV, the main retail institute, the hypothesis of creating possible limitations on the use of credit cards and the release of payroll loans aimed at paying off debts with games was raised.
This could be done through ordinances to be published on the topic, but would require negotiation with banks, which makes the debate more complex.
In internal surveys, networks identified that employees were obtaining loans on the payroll, in part, to play online games and pay debts.
IDV businessmen have already met with Vice President Geraldo Alckmin on this matter, said this week the CEO of Magazine Luiza, Frederico Trajano.
According to Márcio Milan, vice-president of Abras, the Commerce and Services Front (FCS), through federal deputy Domingos Sávio (PL-MG), is already aware of the topic, and a priority part of this debate is to discuss with government interlocutors ways to "speed up" the text of the betting law.
“We will meet with the board and advisory council of Abras to advance more effectively to speed up the discussion in Brasília to really have limitations on values and advertising”, said Milan.
“The advancement of ‘bets’ impacts the whole society, especially the poorest families. We are supporting the PEC that defines more restrictions on the advertising of bets, and guiding companies in the sector to adopt a strict policy in the selection of marketing agencies and influencers, in order to be more responsible with this topic”, he said.
“We will choose agencies and influencers who value social responsibility and who do not encourage gambling irresponsibly”.
According to Milan, just informing, at the end of the advertising campaign, for consumers to gamble responsibly, is not enough. “Saying just that is difficult for those who expect easy gain”, he stated.
For interlocutors of the betting companies, there is already a communication work being done transparently, in a way to reinforce it is an entertainment for the players. And that this aspect is already being explored even more clearly in the brands' campaigns in recent weeks.
Moreover, they believe that there is no direct proven relationship between the games and effects on consumption, said a spokesperson close to the sports betting association.
According to a July ordinance, betting companies will have to identify, qualify and make risk classification of bettors and report suspicious transactions to the Financial Activities Control Council (Coaf), an anti-money laundering agency.
For the association, there is concern with bets because of "more vulnerable". About 30% of "bets" bettors are from classes C, D, and E, the highest percentage among social layers, according to the Locomotive Institute.
Milan also spoke of effect on sales. He said that, due to the drop in inflation of certain foods, “a higher consumption was expected” in July. However, he states that it is necessary to wait for the coming months to see if this scenario repeats, because there is not yet an “effective evaluation” that the cause is the bets, despite indications in that direction within the companies.
“There are companies already alerting their employees of the effect of games on their salaries”, said Milan. Valor found out that the Assaí network sent a communication, days ago, to employees warning about “traps” with bets and digital games.
Last week, the federal government received 113 requests from 108 betting companies that wish to operate in Brazil.
In addition, in June, parallel to the advancement of online betting, the Constitution and Justice Commission approved the bill that authorizes the operation of bingos and casinos and regularizes gambling, such as the animal game, and bets in the country. The issue has already been forwarded to the Senate.
In a report by the newspaper “O Globo”, Senator Irajá Abreu (PSD-TO), rapporteur of the bill that regulates gambling and betting in the country, said this week that the text will be discussed in the Senate is “mature” and ready to be voted on by September.
Source: Financial Intelligence / Valor
