With the recent regulation of the betting market in Brazil, the event brought together professionals from the football industry to discuss, among other topics, the challenges of sports integrity in the face of the growing influence of betting platforms. Rocco emphasized that the Ministry’s role goes beyond oversight and punishment.
“Our main goal is to inform and educate, especially the athletes, who are the primary stakeholders in this process. Without them, there would be no ‘bets’ in football. We want to broaden this discussion and address sensitive issues such as match-fixing and gambling addiction,” he stated.
Gambling addiction, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a disorder characterized by compulsive behavior towards games and betting, even in the face of social, financial, or psychological harm.
The Federal Government maintains an interministerial task force focused on prevention, mental health, and reducing the social impacts caused by this behavior.
“Our greatest concern is to preserve the integrity of families, protect children and adolescents, and raise awareness that sports betting is a form of entertainment, but one that is risky because it involves the possibility of financial loss. The mental health of Brazilians is a concern of ours, and the Ministry of Sports will play a role in building measures to address the problem,” Rocco concluded.
In addition to Giovanni Rocco, the panel included Jorge Borçato, President of the National Federation of Professional Football Athletes; José Philomeno, auditor at the Superior Court of Sports Justice; and consultant Frederico Justo, a specialist in sports investigations and match-fixing.
FUTFORUM is an annual event held in Fortaleza that brings together professionals from the football production chain. With a focus on networking and industry development, the meeting covers topics such as communication, marketing, sports law, youth divisions, women’s football, and refereeing.
In 2025, in addition to sports betting, the event also addressed women’s leadership, the role of independent media, the professionalization of refereeing, and the financial health of clubs.
Source: Ministry of Sports
