Psychiatrist Hermano Tavares Warns of 'Pandemic' of Online Betting Addiction

Hermano Tavares, a psychiatrist and professor who coordinates the Pathological Gaming Outpatient Clinic at the University of São Paulo (USP) Hospital das Clínicas, has described the current surge in online betting as a "pandemic" and a "tsunami." Speaking on the program Roda Viva, Tavares explained that the ease of access provided by smartphones allows individuals to gamble anywhere—including work or home—exposing a larger number of vulnerable people and overloading psychiatric treatment services.

Tavares compared gambling addiction to dependence on substances such as alcohol and cigarettes, noting that betting activates the central nervous system through a psychological mechanism identical to those drugs. Consequently, he challenged the concept of "responsible gaming," calling it a contradiction similar to "drink moderately" warnings in alcohol campaigns, which he argues shift the entire responsibility onto the consumer while exculpating the providers.

The psychiatrist also highlighted a significant shift in the profile of gamblers over time. In the 1990s, during the era of bingos and slot machines, typical patients were often family breadwinners aged between 45 and 47. Today, there is a "juvenilization" of the affected population, with the average age dropping to 30 or younger, predominantly males using digital platforms.

To address the issue, Tavares advocated for shared responsibility among three parties: the gambler, who must maintain individual awareness; the state, which should regulate the activity and provide public treatment; and the gaming industry, which he argues should stop promoting gambling as a source of income and remove mechanisms that create a false perception of control over results.