New Desenrola Brasil introduces restrictions on betting and reignites debate over the impact of bets on indebtedness

The reformulation of the Desenrola program introduces an unprecedented element for the gambling industry: participants who join the renegotiation will face a temporary block on access to online betting platforms for a period of one year. The measure places the betting sector at the center of the government’s strategy to curb the rise in household indebtedness in Brazil.

The program provides discounts of up to 90% on debts and the possibility of using up to 20% of FGTS funds to settle liabilities, focusing on high-cost debt such as credit cards and overdraft facilities. The initiative comes amid the rapid expansion of Brazil’s regulated betting market, alongside record levels of default — currently estimated at around 81 million people, according to Serasa data.

From a structural standpoint, the model will not rely on direct funding from the National Treasury, operating instead through public guarantees that reduce risk for financial institutions. In practice, banks will be able to grant more aggressive discounts to debtors, backed by government support in case of default on the renegotiated agreements.

The inclusion of online betting as a relevant factor in renegotiation policy highlights growing regulatory concern over the effects of betting on consumers’ financial behavior. The Minister of Institutional Relations, José Guimarães, stated that the proposal seeks to create sustainable renegotiation mechanisms while preventing the migration of consumers to unregulated environments.

In the same vein, former minister Wellington Dias emphasized that the program was designed not to encourage indebtedness linked to betting, while also reinforcing the availability of public policies aimed at treating players with problematic behavior.

The initiative, however, has generated mixed reactions in the political sphere and within the industry itself. Opposition lawmakers have labeled the program as electoral in nature and pointed to structural limitations, while allies acknowledge short-term positive effects but question its long-term sustainability. There are also criticisms regarding the use of FGTS funds as a liquidity instrument for renegotiation.

From the industry side, the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) views the measure as positive but highlights inconsistencies in the narrative linking betting to indebtedness. The entity cites recent studies indicating that betting expenses are not among the main burdens on household budgets, pointing instead to high interest rates as the predominant factor in default.

The program’s track record underscores its reach: in 2023, Desenrola Brasil enabled the renegotiation of approximately BRL 32 billion in debt, benefiting around 11.5 million consumers. With the new edition, the government expands the scope of the policy by more explicitly integrating the betting market into the debate on financial health and regulation.

For international operators and stakeholders, the move signals a regulatory environment increasingly attentive to the relationship between gambling and consumer protection, with potential implications for compliance, responsible gaming practices, and market strategies in Brazil.