São Paulo governor Tarcísio de Freitas has intensified criticism of Brazil’s regulated betting sector, arguing that the growth of online gambling has developed into a public health problem and should ultimately be stopped.
Freitas, who is seeking re-election as governor in 2026, made the comments during a healthcare-focused event organised by the Union of Hospitals, Clinics and Laboratories of São Paulo (SindHosp). His intervention brings another prominent political figure into a widening national debate over the social impact of betting.
The governor said Brazil faces a choice between eliminating betting or allowing the sector to cause increasingly serious damage. He linked gambling participation with addiction, mental-health pressures and household financial problems, while arguing that treatment should become more accessible.
Freitas also compared the challenge with Brazil’s previous efforts to reduce tobacco use, suggesting that gambling-related disorders require similarly coordinated action from healthcare authorities. He said a stronger, digital mental-health programme should form part of the response if he wins another term.
One claim made during his comments — that 20% of Brazilians’ income is being directed towards gambling — was not accompanied by a source, and iGaming Business noted that the figure could not be verified.
São Paulo already expanding problem-gambling treatment
The governor’s remarks come after São Paulo enacted legislation in August 2025 establishing a programme aimed at preventing and treating gambling addiction.
Under the law, the state can run public awareness campaigns and strengthen the capacity of its Psychosocial Care Centres, known as CAPS, to deal specifically with gambling-related disorders. The legislation provides for specialist training for psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers, as well as group treatment programmes and partnerships with universities, healthcare institutions and specialist organisations.
Brazil’s federal government has also expanded its response. In July, the Ministry of Health launched a nationwide campaign warning about the risks associated with problematic online betting and directing affected players and their families towards treatment available through the Unified Health System.
A further initiative introduced in August allows the SUS network to provide up to 100,000 remote mental-health consultations per month for people experiencing betting-related problems. The programme stems from a cooperation agreement between the health and finance ministries covering prevention, harm reduction and treatment.
Political pressure grows despite regulated market
Freitas’ position represents a significantly tougher approach than the regulatory framework currently operating at federal level.
Fixed-odds sports betting was legalised in Brazil under legislation passed in 2018, while Law 14,790/2023 established the framework covering regulated online games. Since 1 January 2025, operators serving the national market have been required to obtain authorisation from the Ministry of Finance’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting, with federally licensed websites operating through the .bet.br domain.
The sector is therefore already operating under a formal licensing and supervisory regime, but political criticism has increased as attention shifts from market regulation towards addiction, consumer debt and public health.
Freitas is not alone in placing betting on the political agenda. The issue has attracted scrutiny from politicians across Brazil, while gambling companies and industry associations are preparing for continued pressure during the 2026 election campaign.
His comments indicate that debate over Brazil’s betting industry is moving beyond questions of licensing and enforcement. With public-health programmes expanding at both state and federal level, gambling harm is becoming a central political issue even as the regulated online market continues to operate nationwide.