The Brazilian government has taken drastic measures to regulate online gambling by shutting down more than 2,000 betting sites, that include those sponsoring popular football teams like Corinthians and other first-division clubs.
This move is part of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government efforts to combat fraud, money laundering, and protect users.
According to Brazil’s Finance Minister, Fernando Haddad, the country is struggling with a betting “pandemic,” prompting the government to tighten regulations on the sector.
The new rules, set to take effect in January, ban minors from betting and require sites to register with the government.
The ministry has identified 2,040 “suspicious domains” and requested the telecoms regulatory agency Anatel to block them.
Sites that fail to comply will be blocked from advertising and sponsoring football clubs. However, over 200 sites that have agreed to the new rules will be allowed to continue operating.
Brazil’s central bank estimates that 24 million out of the country’s 212 million inhabitants, roughly one in nine people, gamble online.
President Lula warned that betting is causing many low-income Brazilians to get into debt.
“Anyone who is not regularised, or in the process of being regularised, is being taken off the air,” Haddad stated.
Peoplesmind
