Public health responses to gambling addiction expand in Brazil and Portugal

In Bahia, Brazil, medical consultations related to gambling addiction (ludopathy) have surged by more than 445%, rising from 688 in 2021 to 3,750 in 2024, according to Ministry of Health data. Experts note that easy access to betting platforms and advertisements promising quick wealth contribute to increased anxiety, debt, and psychological distress. The Unified Health System (SUS) provides free assistance through basic health units and specialized psychosocial centers.

In Portugal, the Institute for Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies (ICAD) plans to expand public treatment services. Following the opening of a dedicated gambling treatment unit in Lisbon, the government intends to establish similar services in Porto. The expansion aims to address both monetary gambling and video game addiction, with the 2027 State Budget outlining a commitment to strengthening specialized clinical responses and multidisciplinary interventions for behavioral dependencies.