Several committees within the Council approved motions addressing the risks of online betting. One formal request asks whether the City Hall has accepted sponsorships or entered into partnerships with these companies for public events. Another questions whether there are any existing regulations on the operation and advertising of 'Bets'. A request for a public hearing specifically focused on addiction prevention efforts was also approved.
The August 26 hearing (10 am, Brazilian time) will include representatives from the Executive branch, as well as from health-related organizations and institutions.
The request for the hearing was submitted by councilors Edmar Branco, Flávia Borja, Iza Lourença, Juhlia Santos, Luiza Dulci, and Wagner Ferreira. Interested citizens can attend in person or follow the session live via the City Council’s website or YouTube channel.
The Council’s Health and Sanitation Committee also approved a favorable opinion on a bill authored by Pedro Rousseff to establish a municipal mental health policy for individuals suffering from gambling-related disorders.
Incentives for 'Bets' in the Capital
The City Council’s actions come less than a week after Mayor Álvaro Damião submitted a bill to reduce the ISS rate for virtual betting companies from 5% to 2%. The goal, according to the Executive branch, is to encourage these companies to establish themselves in Belo Horizonte, leveraging the sector’s rapid growth.
However, some council members have expressed concern over the expansion of 'Bets' in the city, citing the risks of addiction, loss of control, and family debt.
The Committee on Human Rights, Housing, Racial Equality, and Consumer Protection approved a motion by Dr. Bruno Pedralva seeking to assess the potential consequences of lowering the ISS rate.
Pedralva’s request questions whether the expected economic benefits—such as job creation or increased revenue—will outweigh the potential social costs. It also inquires about the existence of public policies to address gambling addiction and how the city plans to mitigate the effects of a potential increase in betting activity.
Youth at risk
Information requests addressed to the Municipal Department of Sports and Leisure and Belotur (Belo Horizonte Tourism Authority), filed by Wagner Ferreira, seek to identify which public events, whether organized, supported, or financed by the city, received sponsorships or advertising contracts from 'Bets'.
“While economically attractive, this involvement raises serious social, educational, and public health concerns—especially when linked to initiatives involving children, adolescents, and vulnerable populations, who are key targets of municipal sports and leisure policies,” said the councilor.
One of the parliamentarian's main concerns is the population's "early exposure" to 'Bets' advertisements. Therefore, he questions whether these brands were displayed in sports venues, schools, cultural facilities, or other facilities aimed at children and young people..
Regulation
According to Ferreira, the harmful effects of online gambling growth have led various municipalities and states to begin discussing restrictions on these companies. “However, in the case of Belo Horizonte, it remains unclear whether the local Executive branch has taken any such steps,” he noted.
Another request from Ferreira asks whether any bills, decrees, or other regulatory actions are being considered to govern the presence and advertising of betting companies in public spaces.
Addressing gambling addiction
A separate request asks whether the City Hall has conducted studies or collected data on gambling addiction medically referred to as ludopathy in Belo Horizonte. It also seeks to know which SUS (Brazil’s public health system) facilities offer support, how many trained professionals are available, and whether any treatment protocols are in place.
One more document inquires about educational campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the risks associated with betting, particularly targeting students and parents within the city’s public school system.
Source: GMB
