Rodrigo Pacheco explained that measures should arise from the Legislative and Executive Powers to combat any pathological behavior. Additionally, he referred to the regulation of physical gambling and the benefits he sees in it over online betting.
Brazil.- The president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, stated that addiction to sports betting is a national problem and that it must be combated by the Brazilian State.
"There was a mistake in the national policy by not legalizing gambling in Brazil, preferring to approve sports betting which placed the casino inside homes," said to senators Jorge Kajuru and Leila Barros in an interview on the PODK Liberado podcast. The parliamentarian explained that the regulation of casinos and physical gambling would at least generate employment and tourism.
"Many people are losing control and becoming addicted to betting. This must be confronted by the Brazilian State," said Pacheco, who added: "I want to say that we are at the disposal of the Executive Power for their ideas, to be able to inhibit this very sad moment of national life."
Regarding the manipulation of results in sports games, especially in football, he also highlighted the need to avoid ending the sport, which he considers a "national asset." "I support the thesis that, even with these ideas, if we do not solve these sports bets we should consider banning them," Pacheco stated.
"It's a long-lasting discussion, but we have to do something. We need to act urgently on this issue, with limitations to protect ourselves from these evils. I consider this a great challenge we have, how to define whether we are going to legalize it or not," he concluded.
At another moment in the interview, Kajuru asked the president of the Senate about the possibility of prohibiting predictions on individual football plays, such as bets on yellow and red cards, as a way to avoid manipulation schemes. "This idea of yours (to ban bets on cards and other incidents) is one of the ideas that can obviously be implemented to prevent the destruction of the national asset that is football," Pacheco affirmed. This proposal was also supported by President Lula da Silva.
See also: In Brazil, they propose creating a database to protect compulsive players
