André Gelfi, president of the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR), signs an article in Monitor Mercantil praising the clear and transparent rules that were created with the regulation of sports betting and online gaming. For him, it is essential to differentiate serious companies from those that only seek irresponsible profit. According to him, the industry is already established in Brazil and would not cease to exist if it were not regulated.
The federal decision to create clear and transparent rules for an industry that is already a reality was responsible and correct. Not regulating the gaming and betting market would mean opening the doors to illicit activities by irresponsible operators, who would only aim to harm Brazilian consumers.
Since the sanction of Law 14.790/2023, known as the ‘Sports Betting Law’, as expected, society and major sectors that drive the country's economy show concern about the practical effects of this sanction.
There are fears that the growth in the habit of people betting, even though it generates jobs in Brazil and revenue, may impact other sectors of the economy. In another field, there is concern about family indebtedness, gambling addiction, excessive and malicious advertising, and mental health issues.
In all these situations, there is something fundamental and priority: to differentiate serious and committed companies in addressing solutions for these issues and contributing to the country's economy from those that, from the beginning, have shown only interest in irresponsible and uncommitted profit to the Brazilian society.
The date for the unrestricted implementation of the law is January 1, 2025. With the new year, we will have a selection of serious companies operating legally in Brazil, with licenses granted by the government, dedicated to following the new rules and committed to safe entertainment, broad dissemination of important information, and the well-being of players.
Gambling, whether online or physical, is already part of the routine of Brazilians. However, it is necessary to understand that the problems faced so far with uncertified games, excessive and inappropriate advertising, and significant mental health issues, are consequences of a market that has spent the last six years without any kind of regulation. The industry is already established in Brazil and would not cease to exist if it were not regulated.
The latest ordinances published by the Ministry of Finance have determined the protection of vulnerable groups from abusive advertising and defined a series of devices to hinder indebtedness and fraud – such as CPF verification, having a “clean name” and making payments only via debit or Pix.
The rules follow international standards of good practices applied in the betting market, such as that of the United Kingdom, the best reference we have to date. Measures that were, from the beginning, defended by serious companies that brought new investments to clubs and to Brazilian sports in general.
I emphasize, as president of the IBJR, that gambling is a source of entertainment and should never be seen or used as an investment or a way to make quick and easy money. This model exploited in the country by other companies until now is not responsible, legal gambling focused on fun. It is extortion of family income, health, and trust in a sector that is investing in jobs, tax payments, and generating structure to defend players.
The IBJR commits to working to ensure a safe environment for players, sustainable for companies, based on ethics, fair play, and responsible entertainment. For this reason, we recognize the efforts of the Federal Government in regulating the betting sector, aiming to protect players and insert this industry into the formal economy, contributing to Brazil.
André Gelfi
President of the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR)
