Problem gambling – FairOdds Network

March 27, 2025

Brazil betting CPI chief demands further laws to restrict online gambling access

Senator Soraya Thronicke, rapporteur of the parliamentary inquiry commission (CPI) on betting in Brazil, has urged politicians to back news bills to restrict consumers' access to online gambling.

Thronicke voiced her concerns at Tuesday’s (25 March) meeting of the betting CPI, which was established in November last year amid increased concerns over the impacts of gambling, ahead of the legal online market launch in Brazil on 1 January.

On Tuesday, Thronicke called upon the congress to establish new laws to restrict the population’s access to online betting sites.

She also criticised the long delay between the initial passing of legislation in 2018 and the final approval in December 2023. Many blamed the proliferation of illegal sites during that period for ongoing concerns over betting addiction in Brazil.

“We need to make it increasingly difficult [to access online betting sites],” Thronicke said at the hearing. “We are here to make amends. We need to legislate to minimise th..

January 30, 2025

Study finds 10% of Dutch adults gambled online in 2024

New data has shown just 10% of those aged 16 and over in the Netherlands have gambled online in the last 12 months.

On Wednesday (29 January), the Scientific Research and Data Centre (WODC) in the Netherlands released a factsheet unveiling the findings of three recent studies on Dutch online gambling, which launched in the country in October 2021.

The studies, which cover various periods during 2024, revealed that while 64% of those aged 16 and over in the Netherlands have gambled offline throughout 2024, just one in 10 had placed a bet online.

Lotteries were the predominant form of offline gambling, with 55% of the gambling population using that vertical in 2024, while scratchcards (21%) and bingo (7%) were also prevalent.

Notably, sports betting was the only vertical in which online outpaced land-based, with 4% betting online compared to 3% for offline.

Dutch online gambling rising in popularity

The WODC said 70% of those who had bet online in 2024, had started doing so once th..

January 20, 2025

New Massachusetts bill: No in-play betting, massive tax hike, affordability checks

A new bill in Massachusetts would force operators to pull back on offerings and more than double the betting tax rate while a proposal in Mississippi would add digital sports betting.

On 17 January Massachusetts senator John Keenan introduced a bill that would eliminate in-play bets, introduce affordability checks, more than double the wagering tax rate and more.

Language in the bill, entitled ‘An Act Addressing Economic, Health and Social Harms Caused by Sports Betting’, mirrors that of the federal SAFE Bet Act filed last fall.

Massachusetts is known as one of the most stringently regulated legal betting states in the US. But Keenan’s proposal goes beyond current restrictions. Currently, Massachusetts bettors can make in-play wagers, but cannot place prop bets. The law also already bans betting on Massachusetts state college teams, unless the teams are playing in a tournament.

Operators have struggled with this – BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and others have been fined since dig..

January 8, 2025

Industry calls lopsided Minnesota online sports betting hearing “a media stunt”

In Minnesota, a state that has considered legalising sports betting since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned in 2018, Senator John Marty today (8 January) held a hearing on the issue. But he didn't invite industry reps.

The decision to keep the industry out of the hearing in front of the state senate finance committee was by design. In his comments before testimony began, Marty acknowledged that the state has been struggling with whether or not to legalise.

But he also said that no previous hearing had “focused on harm”. While “harm” may not have been a focus in previous hearings, problem and responsible gambling advocates testified many times.

Marty also suggested that sports betting “is currently legal in Minnesota”. He said betting with friends or strangers is legal. But “sports bookmaking where a corporate entity can come in and profit off of your betting” is not legal. He went on to qualify gambling addiction “as powerful as any op..

December 18, 2024

Brazil betting CPI rapporteur hits back after claims of extortion

Senator Soraya Thronicke, rapporteur of the betting Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) in Brazil, has called for help from the federal police (FP) to investigate claims of extortion within the group.

In response to growing criticism of the betting industry in Brazil ahead of the legal market launch on 1 January 2025, the betting CPI was established in November at Thronicke’s request. It aims to investigate the “growing influence of online gambling on [Brazilian families’ financial spending]”.

Last week (13 December) however, the CPI was plunged into scandal after a report from Brazilian magazine Veja made allegations of extortion linked to businessmen within the gambling industry.

Veja reported senator Ciro Nogueira alerted congress president Rodrigo Pacheco to a lobbyist from Brasília named Silvio de Assis seeking to extort members of the industry.

The FP are already reportedly involved, with De Assis allegedly requesting BRL40 million (£5.2 million/€6.2 million/$6.5 million)..

December 17, 2024

US senate gambling hearing derailed by Kennedy’s and Hawley’s transgender fetish

Two US senators used a hearing on legal sports betting to push forward their own agendas on whether or not “biological males” should be allowed to play in women's college sports events.

Senators John Kennedy and Josh Hawley hijacked today’s (17 December) US congressional hearing about the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet Act (SAFE Bet Act) to push forward a different agenda.

It was an ironic situation – as senators and witnesses were discussing how to protect student-athletes from harassment from bettors, Kennedy and Hawley harassed NCAA chief Charlie Baker in the most public of forums.

During a question-and-answer period, Louisiana Republican Kennedy veered off track with questions around why the NCAA “allows biological males” to play in games with “biological females”. The issue has been in the news after multiple women’s volleyball teams forfeited games against San Jose State after it was revealed that there was a transgender player on the team. Boise ..

December 2, 2024

Argentina chamber of deputies approves bill to ban online betting ads

The chamber of deputies in Argentina has approved a bill to ban online betting advertising, with the hopes it will protect children from gambling harms.

In a special session on 27 November, the chamber passed the federal bill by 139 votes to 36. There was also 59 abstentions from the vote in Argentina.

The bill will now go to the senate, which will take into account the views of stakeholders such as Argentinian football clubs before deciding whether to progress the bill further.

Article 8 of the bill bans advertising, promotion and sponsorship of online betting on all communication platforms. This includes digital platforms like social media and outdoor spaces such as public roads.

Additionally, Article 8 prohibits online operators from sponsoring sports teams or athletes. This also includes the use of the company’s name to identify sporting venues such as stadiums or training centres. The promotion of online gambling on signage at such venues would also be banned.

Influencer adv..

November 21, 2024

Could a 1% consumption tax topple Peru’s betting ambitions?

The reintroduction of a betting consumption tax looms over Peru, raising concerns that double taxation and a rise in black market activity could dampen growth.

It has been a huge year for gambling in Peru and industry commentators expect, thanks to recent online regulation, that it could become the third largest online betting market in South America. An amended Law No 31557 to regulate online sports betting and igaming in the country came into effect on 9 February, after initially being signed off by President Pedro Castillo in 2022.

The country’s gambling regulator, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), started taking online licence applications in February and the market’s potential encouraged top tier operators such as Betsson, Rush Street Interactive and Stake to apply. By 21 March, 145 applications had been received.

The regulatory framework set out in Law No 31557 has been described as favourable for operators as it features a respectable 12% tax on gross gami..

November 14, 2024

Betting with benefits banned in Brazil pending final approval

Minister for Brazil's Federal Supreme Court Luis Fux has filed an injunction to ban betting via Brazil's Bolsa Familia social welfare cheque. The measure will be put to an emergency session of the Brazilian chamber of deputies today with plans to enforce it effective immediately.

The decision was made after a two-day hearing at the Federal Supreme Court (STF), initiated on Monday 12 November, sought to investigate the impacts of betting in Brazil and determine whether the law governing the upcoming legal market is constitutional.

The STF hearing was called following a request from Brazil’s third biggest trade union, the National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC), filed an ADI (Ação Direta de Inconstitucionalidade) which is a legal action in Brazil intended to overturn a law that conflicts with the country’s Constitution.

Brazil’s betting sector, which is preparing to receive initial licences shortly, has faced significant backlash from politicia..

November 13, 2024

Brazil forms parliamentary betting commission to address gambling concerns

The parliamentary inquiry commission (CPI) on betting was formed in Brazil yesterday (12 November) ahead of the legal market launch on 1 January 2025, so senators can discuss their concerns with the industry.

The betting CPI was initially proposed on 8 October, with Senator Soraya Thronicke requesting its creation to investigate the “growing influence of online virtual gambling games on [Brazilian families’ financial spending]”.

Thronicke’s request received the 27 signatures needed but the group’s formation was delayed amid uncertainty over who would serve on the inquiry.

Thronicke was assigned the CPI’s lead, while Senator Dr Hiran Gonçalves will chair the commission with Senator Alessandro Vieira as vice chair.

The CPI will have 11 members and seven substitutes, with an initial 130 days in which to carry out its work and its next meeting will be next Tuesday (19 November), although Thronicke did not disclose the names of the first witnesses.

Dr Gonçalves ended the meeting by sa..

November 12, 2024

ANJL: Brazil black market will grow if betting law is deemed unconstitutional

The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has said Brazil's black market activity would increase if the Supreme Court deems its betting law unconstitutional.

On Monday (11 November), the ANJL shared its thoughts at the ongoing Federal Supreme Court (STF) hearing which will determine whether Law No 14,790/2023 for legalised sports betting in Brazil is considered unconstitutional.

The two-day public hearing this week is investigating the impacts of betting in Brazil, with a number of big industry names speaking at the event. It was initiated after Brazil’s third biggest trade union, the National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC), requested the betting law be declared unconstitutional.

The union filed an ADI (Ação Direta de Inconstitucionalidade), which is a legal action in Brazil that seeks to uphold a law or act that goes against the constitution.

The rapporteur of ADI 7721 is minister Luis Fux, who said on Monday the STF must assess t..

October 31, 2024

Former Brazil finance ministry advisor warns against banning online betting

José Francisco Manssur, former special secretary of the Brazil ministry of finance, has cautioned that a ban on online betting would be a backwards step for the country.

On 21 October, Senator Sérgio Petecão proposed Bill 4,031/2024 to ban online betting in Brazil over concerns it is driving fiscal debt and gambling addiction.

The bill is the latest in a string of initiatives by politicians to restrict online betting in Brazil, which is set to launch its legal market on 1 January 2025.

Manssur played a key role in Brazil passing its online betting legislation over the line, before he left his position as an advisor in February of this year, subsequently becoming a partner at law firm CSMV Advogados.

With 269 companies having so far applied for a betting licence ahead of the January launch, Manssur says there is clear evidence the industry supports the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets’ (SPA) regulations and deems them sufficient in protecting players.

In an op-ed for Poder 360 dat..

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Tag: Problem gambling