“We are implementing regulation and, in October, we will remove 2 thousand betting sites from this country. Later we will know what benefits the regulation will guarantee, I am sure that this is being done seriously. If regulation does not work, I will have no doubts about putting an end to it once and for all,” said President Lula.
The statements were made at the João Firmino Correia de Araújo State School, in São Bernardo do Campo, in the ABC Paulista region, the president’s voting location.
The PT member also said that it is not “acceptable” for Bolsa Família beneficiaries to use money for bets.
“We do not accept the idea that Bolsa Família beneficiaries are spending money betting; it is not possible that someone is doing this,” said Lula.
According to the Central Bank, in August alone, Bolsa Família beneficiaries spent R$3 billion (US$ 550m) on bets via Pix.
Lula also stated that he treats 'Bets'- as the operators are called in Brazil - addiction as a “disease.”
“I know people who have lost their homes, who have lost their cars, who spend their entire salaries on a Friday or Saturday. This is an illness that we need to treat from a health perspective as well,” he concluded.
Last Thursday (2), the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, stated that in the coming days, around 2,000 betting sites will be taken offline.
Starting October 11, betting houses that have not requested authorization to operate from the Treasury or that have had their requests rejected will be blocked.
Source: GMB
