The federal government published a rule on Wednesday (1 October) to prevent beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família and the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC) benefits programs from placing bets on online betting platforms.
The instruction, structured by the Secretary of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance was released in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) and fulfils a directive from the Supreme Federal Court (STF). In a decision at the end of 2024, the Court ruled that the government must adopt measures to prohibit the use of social benefit resources in betting activities.
To comply with the decision, a database of PBF and BPC beneficiaries was created, which must be consulted by betting operators during checks, during user registration, and during logins. According to the new rules, betting companies must also periodically consult the Betting Management System (SIGAP), using the Individual Taxpayer Registry (CPF) number to verify whether the user is included in the database of beneficiaries of these social programs. If the user is included, the registration must be blocked, the account closed, and any deposited amounts returned to the account holder.
Regis Dudena, Secretary of Prizes and Bets at the Ministry of Finance, highlighted the efforts involved in implementing the measure. “To ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling, it was necessary to develop a robust technical tool, carefully ensuring that the measure guaranteed the protection of the rights involved. Protecting citizens, their security, their rights, and their personal data are always objectives of the Brazilian Government.”
The new SIGAP feature was developed by the Federal Data Processing Service (Serpro) at the request of the Ministry of Finance. It is the first part of a larger system, called the Impeded Persons Module, which includes other restrictions imposed by Law No. 14,790/2023.
Serpro President Alexandre Amorim highlighted the relevance of the solution developed with a focus on social program users: “This measure reinforces the State’s commitment to the ethical use of technology and to building a transparent, safe, and socially fair betting market. Sigap is an example of how technology can be applied strategically to meet the needs of the State and society.”
According to a Ministry of Finance press release: “Under no circumstances will beneficiaries of social programs have their benefits suspended. It is the betting companies’ responsibility to prevent beneficiaries from registering and accessing betting sites”.
At the end of 2024, a survey by the Central Bank (BC) showed that over R$ 3 billion had been spent on betting sites by just over 5 million beneficiary families of Bolsa Família. Of this total, 4 million individuals are heads of families who directly receive funds from the government.
Initially, the Government’s action was to block the Bolsa Família card from being registered on the platforms. However, this measure proved ineffective, as gamblers were using benefit money through personal cards to register on sites according to Lance! one of Brazil’s leading sports newspapers.
The post Individuals receiving benefits in Brazil banned from online betting appeared first on G3 Newswire.
The federal government published a rule on Wednesday (1 October) to prevent beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família and the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC) benefits programs from placing bets on online betting platforms. The instruction, structured by the Secretary of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance was released in the Official Gazette of the Union…
The post Individuals receiving benefits in Brazil banned from online betting appeared first on G3 Newswire.