Supreme Court confirms decision that banned the use of social benefits for bets

The Federal Supreme Court (STF) decided, this Thursday (14), to validate the individual decision of Minister Luiz Fux who determined measures to prevent beneficiaries of social programs from placing bets on “bets” (online betting) sites.

The injunction was judged by the other ministers during a virtual session of the Court.

On Wednesday (13), Fux, who is the case’s rapporteur, ordered the government to adopt “immediate special protection measures” that prevent the use of resources from social and assistance programs, such as Bolsa Família and Benefit Benefit Continuous (BPC), to bank bets.

In the decision, the minister also determined that the rules set out in Ordinance No. 1,231/2024, of the Ministry of Finance, on the prohibition of communication, advertising and marketing actions aimed at children and adolescents have “immediate application”.

The minister’s injunction was granted after the public hearing held by the STF to hear experts about the effects of the proliferation of betting on the economy and the mental health of bettors.

The process that motivated the debate was filed with the Court by the National Confederation of Commerce in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC).

The entity questions Law 14,790/2023, a rule that regulated fixed-odd online betting. In the Direct Unconstitutionality Action (Adin), the CNC says that the legislation, by promoting the practice of gambling, causes negative impacts on less favored social classes. Furthermore, the entity cites the growth in household debt.

According to a survey released in August this year by the Central Bank (BC), Bolsa Família beneficiaries spent R$3 billion on bets.

FREE ACCESS

BONDS PORTFOLIO

I WANT MY WALLET