Portugal opens first public gambling‑addiction unit; Brazil expands SUS telehealth for gamblers
Lisbon inaugurated its first public centre dedicated to treating money‑ gambling addiction. The Unidade de Intervenção no Jogo de Lisboa began operating on Thursday in a temporary space provided by the city. It offers outpatient care for adults, with a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and a accountant. Demand for services has more than doubled, rising from 358 users in 2023 to 782 in 2025, according to ICAD president Joana Teixeira, who noted a national prevalence of about 0.6% for gambling disorder.
In Brazil, the Ministry of Health announced an expansion of the SUS tele‑attendance programme for compulsive gamblers. Launched in March in partnership with Hospital Sírio‑Libanês, the service already recorded 6,912 users after three months. The plan calls for roughly R$ 70 million in new funding this year, plus R$ 6 million for a first nationwide study on the health impacts of betting. Financing will draw on the gambling‑tax revenue earmarked for health, amounting to about R$ 45.7 million in 2025.