The agreement will also establish a direct communication channel between the departments of both ministries.
The negotiations involve the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (Ministry of Finance) and the Secretariat for Specialized Health Care (Ministry of Health). According to a draft of the agreement, the objective is to enable the exchange of information and data to support joint actions and propose best practices for betting operators focused on player protection.
The document also calls for the creation of educational and training materials addressing the 'Bets' market from a mental health perspective, as well as the development of a direct communication channel between the ministries and the promotion of specialized training programs on the subject.
The initiative arose from the need to identify and implement measures to protect players’ mental health “in light of the rapid growth of fixed-odds betting nationwide,” according to the working plan.
“It also aims to ensure proper coordination of mental health care in Brazil through joint actions by the federal bodies involved, which share an interest in promoting responsible and sustainable mental health care for consumer-bettors,” the text states.
The proposal includes monitoring and sharing data on player behavior and mental health demands, expected to begin in the first quarter of next year and remain active throughout the agreement’s three-year term, with the possibility of extension.
Additionally, as part of its best practices, the agreement foresees the development of mental health guidance materials for Bets operators, with implementation scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2026 and conclude in the second quarter.
Source: Folha
