# Brazilian Doctors Petition for Total Ban on Online Betting Platforms Over 4,200 medical professionals demand legislative action against gambling-related mental health crises. - **Source:** [Folha de S.Paulo](https://www.folha.uol.com.br) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [health](https://brifing.si/c/health) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/b1d4a448-0a46-40e2-a785-5074b521e91e ## Massive Medical Mobilization A collective of 4,264 medical professionals has formally petitioned for a total ban on online betting platforms in Brazil. This group includes 1,246 psychiatrists and residents alongside 3,018 physicians from various other specialties. The signatories represent all 27 federal units, highlighting a nationwide consensus among doctors regarding the dangers of gambling. ## Legislative and Judicial Demands The petition urges Congress to codify the current ban established by provisional measure 1.394/2026 into permanent law. Furthermore, the doctors have requested that the Supreme Court maintain the effectiveness of this measure during parliamentary deliberations. They insist that any future legislation must strictly prohibit all forms of advertising and corporate sponsorships. ## Clinical Impact of Gambling Physicians report a significant surge in patients suffering from severe financial losses, broken social bonds, and suicidal ideation linked to betting. The medical community argues that current regulatory frameworks are insufficient to protect vulnerable individuals. They emphasize that mass marketing and unlimited access make individual self-control impossible for those with gambling disorders. ## Escalating Public Health Crisis Data from the Ministry of Health indicates a 140% increase in SUS public health system attendances for pathological gambling between 2018 and 2025. According to the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets, gamblers lost a staggering R$ 37 billion in the regulated market during 2025, underscoring the massive economic drain on the population. ## Call for Institutional Accountability The document explicitly demands investigations into potential financial advantages received by parliamentarians who supported the legalization of the sector. The doctors seek to uncover if any lawmakers received benefits from betting companies to advocate for the industry. This push for transparency aims to ensure that public policy remains free from private corporate influence. ## Institutional Support and Scope The initiative has gained formal institutional backing from the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology and the Pediatric Society of the Federal District. This broad support underscores that the issue extends beyond psychiatry, affecting various facets of physical and developmental health across different age groups within the Brazilian population at large. ## Systemic Regulatory Requirements Beyond a total ban, the petition calls for rigorous fiscal oversight of betting websites and payment processing methods. The doctors also advocate for the expansion of specialized mental health services to address the growing number of addiction cases. They argue that current infrastructure is inadequate to handle the scale of the crisis. ## Future Policy Implications The medical community remains firm against any transition periods or regulatory flexibilization that might allow betting companies to continue operations. As the debate moves to the legislative floor, the focus remains on whether the government will prioritize public health outcomes over the economic arguments previously used to justify the sector's initial legalization. ## Sources covering this story - https://redir.folha.com.br/redir/online/emcimadahora/rss091/*https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/monicabergamo/2026/11/carta-de-psiquiatras-pelo-fim-das-bets-reune-assinaturas-de-mais-de-4200-medicos.shtml — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._