According to the minister, investigations began after the Central Bank (BC) released a technical analysis last year showing that around 5 million people from families receiving the Bolsa Família benefit had transferred R$3 billion (US$512m) to betting companies via Pix transactions.
“When the Central Bank released the volume it had found, I was suspicious because it didn’t match the data we cross-checked with our Bolsa Família monitoring system. That’s when I requested an investigation from the Federal Police. If there’s an amount of money that doesn’t align with those using the Bolsa Família card, then someone might be using other people's CPF numbers, and that’s now under investigation,” said Wellington Dias.
“Today we already have the first pieces of evidence showing that, in many cases, money laundering was carried out using someone else’s CPF — often without their knowledge. The transaction volumes made no sense. Some people said, ‘God forbid I ever have that much money.’ In other words, they didn’t even want to have such an amount. So clearly, the investigations are continuing, and we will take action. That’s how it works — rights for those who are entitled to them,” he added.
“We want to reach everyone who is still in need and hasn't yet been helped. But we also need to ensure the law is enforced. Wherever there is fraud or any crime, we will act, and we will act firmly. I believe we need to be careful not to create prejudice against this population, which already suffers from many forms of discrimination,” the minister explained.
Wellington Dias also said the number of Bolsa Família recipients who gamble on betting sites is small compared to the total number of Brazilians who admit to gambling.
“When the Central Bank’s report came out, I immediately contacted the leadership and the researchers who conducted the study. We cross-checked the data. Brazil is going through a serious issue, and I want to draw attention to it. We’re talking about approximately 52% of the population engaging in gambling. And when we look at the Bolsa Família recipients who used their card or benefits for gambling, the rate is 3.4%. So there is a significant gap,” he said.
In a conversation with radio hosts from different regions, Dias also discussed other actions underway to prevent the use of Bolsa Família funds for online gambling.
“Everyone knows that the money is meant for food insecurity and basic family needs. So, what did we do? We implemented measures that apply to all credit cards to block their use for this purpose. We also began working with the Ministry of Health and are currently assisting approximately 190,000 individuals we classify as gambling addicts—people who gamble almost every day. It’s a form of addiction, let’s call it that.”
“So just as we provide care for people addicted to drugs or other substances, we also care for gambling addicts. The Ministry of Health has a support network, and the treatment is complex. Often, it destroys families. Around R$30 billion is spent each month on gambling. This is a matter the country needs to face and find a solution for,” the minister said.
Source: Agência Gov
