TLDR
- ANJL criticized the Brazilian government for leaving regulated betting operators out of a September 1 meeting on sports betting.
- President Lula chaired the session, which included health, culture, and religious groups but no licensed betting companies.
- The Ministry of Finance’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting was also excluded from the discussion.
- ANJL disputed some of the data presented at the meeting, saying it did not match official figures.
- The association is requesting a new meeting and warned that restricting the legal market could push customers toward illegal operators.
Brazil’s National Association of Games and Lotteries has criticized the federal government for holding a meeting on sports betting without including licensed operators. The group, known as ANJL, released a statement the day after the event took place.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva led the meeting on September 1. It brought together representatives from health, culture, and economic sectors.
Civil society groups and religious institutions also attended. No companies from the regulated betting market were present.
ANJL Questions Who Was Left Out
ANJL said the absence of licensed operators made the conversation one-sided. The association pointed out that some groups included in the meeting had already expressed opposition to betting.
The exclusion went beyond private companies. The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting, the government body that regulates and supervises the sector, was also left out of the discussion.
ANJL president Plínio Lemos Jorge said this weakens the quality of the debate. He said regulated operators bring data and technical knowledge that the market needs.
Lemos said leaving out this group affects the fairness of any decisions made. He called for a more complete process going forward.
Dispute Over the Data Presented
ANJL also raised concerns about the information shared during the meeting. The group said some figures on the effects of betting did not line up with official numbers.
The association said policy discussions should rely on accurate data. It also said people affected by any new rules should have a seat at the table.
ANJL noted that Brazil’s current betting law came from a public and institutional debate in Congress. The group said any changes to that law should follow a similarly open process.
That process, according to ANJL, should include regulators, licensed operators, and civil society. It should not be limited to select groups chosen by the government.
The association also addressed risks tied to the legal betting market. It said policies that weaken licensed operators could push customers toward illegal betting sites.
Licensed companies in Brazil follow rules on responsible gambling and protecting minors. They also follow advertising standards and measures aimed at preventing gambling-related harm.
ANJL said none of those protections exist in the illegal market. It said banning or restricting licensed operators would not stop betting activity altogether.
Instead, the association said, that activity would likely shift to unregulated platforms. It warned this could open the door to more involvement from organized crime.
ANJL pointed to the economic role the regulated betting sector plays in Brazil. It cited jobs, investment, and contributions to sports, media, and tax revenue.
The association said it plans to formally request another meeting with the federal government. It wants to address the issues raised after the September 1 session.
ANJL said it has been involved in Brazil’s betting regulation process since it began. The group said it continues to work with the government and the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting on consumer protection measures.
The association maintains that any discussion on betting policy should include all parties affected by the outcome. It said leaving out licensed operators makes it harder to get a full picture of the market.
