Dino releases case on gambling and paves the way for judgment on bets
Minister convinced colleagues to analyze the issue along with the discussion on betting platforms. Read on Gazeta do Povo.
TL;DR
- Minister Flávio Dino reopened a case on whether gambling exploitation remains a criminal offense after the 1988 Constitution.
- The Supreme Court will now judge this issue alongside cases questioning online betting legislation.
- The original gambling law dates back to 1941 and is considered a misdemeanor with lighter penalties.
- Arguments for decriminalization cite violations of free initiative, individual liberties, and proportionality.
- Similar arguments were used in the debate for personal marijuana possession decriminalization.
- Recent legislation in 2023 regulated fixed-odds betting and expanded to online games, but a subsequent measure in September 2026 aimed to ban bets.
- The government cited health risks and increased family debt as reasons for the ban, while the sector argued against abrupt policy changes.
- The debate also includes the potential for a clandestine market if betting is prohibited.