Flávio Bolsonaro Proposes Ban on Social Funds for Betting

Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro has included a proposal to prevent federal social program funds from being used for betting in his government program submitted to the Electoral Court. However, the restriction outlined in the proposal is already in force for authorized betting operators in Brazil.

The document states that money provided through social programs should not be used for betting and proposes awareness initiatives focused on gambling-related debt and financial education, alongside programs involving Caixa Econômica Federal.

According to data released by Brazil’s Ministry of Finance, beneficiaries of Bolsa Família and the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC) are already prohibited from registering with authorized betting platforms. As a result, the proposal would reinforce an existing measure rather than introduce a new restriction.

Existing Betting Restrictions

The Ministry of Finance introduced the restriction in October 2025, preventing Bolsa Família and BPC beneficiaries from registering with government-authorized betting operators.

In November, Supreme Federal Court Justice Luiz Fux partially overturned the measure in a ruling, although the decision did not remove the restriction. Magnho José, president of the Brazilian Legal Gaming Institute, said beneficiaries of Bolsa Família and BPC are currently blocked from registering on betting platforms.

Under the existing system, betting operators must consult a database maintained by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA). The database contains the identification numbers of individuals restricted from betting, allowing operators to block accounts belonging to people listed there.

Around Five Million CPFs Restricted

On August 13, Finance Minister Dario Durigan said that around five million Brazilian CPFs were connected to betting restrictions.

The figure includes approximately three million Bolsa Família and BPC beneficiaries who had previously bet, 1.2 million people who voluntarily self-excluded from the betting system, and 800,000 participants in the Novo Desenrola debt renegotiation program.

Participants in the latter group are subject to a 12-month betting restriction under the terms of the debt renegotiation program.

The restrictions are also monitored beyond the initial account registration process. Operators must check the database when an account is opened, when a customer first accesses the account each day, and at least once every 15 days.

Betting Controls and Social Protection

The current framework follows an urgent decision from Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court and recommendations from the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU). The Attorney General’s Office attempted to overturn the legal restriction in 2024 but was unsuccessful.

Flávio Bolsonaro’s proposal places the restriction within a broader discussion about social protection and Brazil’s regulated betting market. While the initiative calls for the continuation or formalization of the measure, the core restriction is already being applied to individuals covered by the existing rules.

The development highlights the growing connection between Brazil’s betting regulations, social protection measures and controls governing access to authorized betting platforms.