The Minister of Social Development, Wellington Dias, stated that a proposal is being drafted that aims to prevent the use of the Bolsa Família card to pay for online bets, known as “bets”.
According to the minister, although the Bolsa Família card allows purchases to meet family needs, such as food and other essential items, its use for gambling does not fall under these criteria. He stressed that the restriction is not exclusive to Bolsa Família, but is part of a measure that applies to all cards.
“The Bolsa Família card offers freedom to meet family needs, such as food, but gambling is clearly not a necessity. To avoid prejudice, the rule that will be applied to Bolsa Família will also apply to all cards,” he said.
Since Congress approved the regulation of online gambling, the possibility of using the Bolsa Família benefit for this type of payment has generated debate. On the one hand, there are those who argue that beneficiaries should have autonomy over the management of their resources. On the other, critics point out that the focus of the program should remain on food security and the well-being of families.
The minister's statement was made after a meeting with Finance Minister Fernando Haddad in Brasilia. However, Dias did not specify when the measure would come into effect, highlighting that the blockade is still being implemented.
“We are developing this measure within the context of a general policy for all cards,” he said. According to him, the blocking will work in a similar way to what happens with credit cards, preventing the use of the Bolsa Família card on betting sites. He explained that there will be an integrated blocking system with betting companies and the National Gaming Secretariat, in addition to oversight by the Central Bank and other regulatory agencies.
Operators begin blocking access to betting sites
Data released by the Central Bank in September shows that, in the first eight months of 2024, Brazilians spent an average of R$1.4 billion per month on online gambling. The study also revealed that around 24 million people made at least one payment via Pix to these sites, and among them are Bolsa Família beneficiaries.
At the beginning of the month, the minister had already informed columnist Valdo Cruz, of g1, which would present President Lula with a proposal to guarantee the blocking of the benefit for this purpose.
One of the measures discussed is the possibility of replacing the cardholder, should he or she start accumulating gambling debts and jeopardizing the food security of his or her family.