The head of the SPA referred to the attitude that the State will take regarding the use of amounts from government social programs, especially Bolsa Família, for sports betting.
Brazil.- One of the topics that generated the most debate in 2024 was the use of money from government social programs, such as Bolsa Família, for sports betting and online casino games. Despite initial concerns from sectors of the executive power, the Secretary of Prizes and Betting (SPA), Regis Dudena, explained, during an interview with Rádio Gaúcha, that the ministry should not impose restrictions on social program beneficiaries using the funds to gamble.
According to the secretary, the intention is to respect the will of Bolsa Familia users and other programs to use the money as they see fit. "As for social programs, our initial position, as regulators, is that we should not impose restrictions. The idea of a program of this nature is to offer the resource to the citizen, allowing them to decide how to use it,” said Dudena.
On this occasion, the head of the SPA took the opportunity to comment on the operating rules of sports betting companies that came into effect last January 1. “Any bettor will be protected by the rules. The main change is that, from now on, any company wishing to provide this service must first request authorization from the Ministry of Finance. Only after obtaining this authorization can they operate nationally,” he explained.
In the last months of 2024, the issue of social programs used in betting generated a lot of repercussion. In November, Minister Luiz Fux, of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), ordered the government to take measures to prevent Bolsa Família funds from being used in virtual betting, a decision that was endorsed by the full STF.
See also: Controversy in Brazil: the Central Bank recognizes possible flaws in the study on the spending of Bolsa Família beneficiaries on betting
In December, the minister of the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), Jhonatan de Jesus, ordered the government to implement urgent measures to prevent Bolsa Família funds from being used by beneficiaries on fixed-odds betting sites.
The minister demanded that the Ministries of Finance, Development and Social Assistance, Sports, and Caixa Econômica implement actions to block the use of Bolsa Família funds in betting, adopting “immediate technical solutions” to ensure the prohibition.
The establishment states that the closure responds to political interests and accuses Governor Julio Menchaca Salazar of not complying with judicial resolutions.
Mexico.- The recent closure of the casino Winpot in Pachuca, Hidalgo, has triggered a wave of criticism and suspicions in various sectors, including business and political. More than 200 employees have been affected by the decision of the Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks of Hidalgo (Copriseh), under the direction of Luis Alberto Mercado Hernández. Although the casino complied with all required permits and regulations, the closure was justified under the argument of violations of the General Law for Tobacco Control, a topic in which the casino assures it has a legal protection that allows it to continue operating.
What has generated controversy is the lack of intervention by the governor of Hidalgo, Julio Menchaca Salazar, who has not responded to the judicial resolutions that order the reopening of the establishment. The silence of the governor in the face of judicial orders has raised suspicions about possible conflicts of interest surrounding the closure.
Investigations suggest that the casino Vía Dorada, located just meters from Winpot, could have benefited from the closure of its competition. This casino belongs to the companies Petolof S.A. de C.V. and Hermes S.A. de C.V., whose shareholders include Elías Marianno Gil Valdez, current Secretary of Administration of Hidalgo and son of Sergio Jacinto Gil García, linked to scandals in the gaming sector. According to documents released by various media, Gil García is also related to the opening of a casino in San Jerónimo, contradicting the promises of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to not allow the expansion of such establishments.
The case adds another element when mentioning Juan Carlos Martínez Domínguez, another shareholder of Hermes S.A. de C.V., who is pointed out for alleged participation in corruption schemes, including the diversion of public funds and fraud in the sale of materials to the Ministry of Public Education of Hidalgo. These connections have fueled suspicions that the closure of Winpot could respond to personal or business interests.
See also: Taxes on gambling in Mexico: proposals to increase the tax burden in the state of Guanajuato
