Gambling has always been popular in Brazil, even though it's not regulated by the country's legislation. In recent years, this type of gambling has gained even greater popularity with the growth of online gambling.
This type of platform has been massively promoted on social media, attracting an ever-increasing number of bettors. Along with this growth, controversy has also arisen surrounding this practice. In addition to the risk of financial and cyber scams, online betting also poses a significant threat to business productivity.
Online gamblers end up using their work hours to monitor their bets and place new bets . As a result, companies are experiencing a significant impact on their productivity, as work hours are being used for tasks unrelated to the company's interests.
What are betting and gambling sites?
You've probably heard of at least one popular game of chance in Brazil: jogo do bicho, raffles, sports betting, and others. Simply put, betting sites refer to games in which the results depend mostly or exclusively on luck . This means that, regardless of the bettor's actions, the results are completely beyond their control.
Without legal regulation, gambling is considered a criminal offense. In October 1941, then-President Getúlio Vargas approved a decree-law known as the Law of Criminal Offenses , which states that "establishing or operating games of chance in a public place or in a place accessible to the public is a crime." This decree-law remains in effect to this day, maintaining gambling as an illegal practice.
However, their ban doesn't mean these games are no longer practiced in the country. These types of games have been informally practiced through various modalities. After all, who hasn't participated in a raffle draw? (It's important to note that raffles are only permitted when held by non-profit organizations.)
Contrary to popular belief, poker is not considered a form of gambling . This is because it relies on the player's knowledge and skill, not just luck. Therefore, it is not a prohibited form of gambling in the country.
In addition to the animal game and raffle, the following are also considered games of chance:
- Bingo;
- Lottery;
- Slot machines;
- Dice game;
- Roulette;
- Heads or tails;
- Between others.
Although considered a game of chance, the lottery has exceptional authorization and is operated by government agencies, with the justification that profits obtained from this practice have a social purpose for the country.
Betting sites
Online betting sites, especially sports betting, are currently receiving widespread publicity. Social media platforms are frequently promoting these types of sites , significantly increasing the number of bettors.
Regulation aside, gambling in the workplace can cause significant losses for a company. Managers rely on a certain number of employees hired to meet a specific business need. If employees stop performing their duties to access gambling websites, the company suffers losses and its needs are poorly met.
It's crucial that your team be made aware of the importance of staying focused on tasks during work hours and avoiding behaviors that could be detrimental to the business. Besides harming productivity, accessing betting sites within the company environment can also pose a significant cyber risk .
Many such platforms end up hiding digital traps that favor cybercriminals and contribute to the perpetration of digital scams. Companies handle a huge amount of confidential information every day, and a leak of this data can cause immense losses.
Gambling vs. Sports Betting Sites
A major sports betting manipulation scheme was recently uncovered in Brazil on such websites. The operation responsible for investigating this scheme became known as Operation Maximum Penalty , as soccer players were paid to alter match outcomes on the field through yellow cards and penalties.
Although they are two related activities, sports betting and gambling have important distinctions. The main difference between these two disciplines lies in the nature of the activity. Gambling involves placing bets that depend solely on luck , while sports betting is influenced not only by luck but also by the knowledge and skill of the players .
For this reason, sports betting is considered a logical practice , as it is possible to predict certain outcomes according to previous results and a performance graph of the athletes involved.
In any case, both practices can cause countless losses to the company and it is necessary to adopt efficient solutions to control this type of access.
Impact of betting sites on your team's productivity
Let's put it this way: a company has a set number of activities that must be performed to remain active in the market and meet its demands. This number of tasks requires a certain number of employees to be carried out efficiently, delivering quality and performance.
Therefore, hiring takes into account the number of tasks that need to be completed during working hours. If half of the employees involved in this process aren't dedicated to their assigned tasks, the other half will be overwhelmed.
While some staff members waste time accessing betting and gambling websites, others have to work overtime to meet the company's demands. This means the organization is losing money by hiring employees who don't meet the expected demands and also by having to shoulder the workload suffered by the rest of the team.
Unauthorized access during working hours can cause problems and harm business results in the short, medium, and long term. Learn how to maximize your results through this comprehensive content .
Brazilian legislation on betting sites
Technology has also helped popularize gambling, placing it on online platforms to ensure access to an ever-increasing number of people . These platforms include:
- Sports betting sites: on this type of site, bettors bet money on the results of various sports, such as football, volleyball, tennis, basketball, among others;
- Blackjack: Well-known for its casino appeal, Blackjack is a card game considered a game of chance. It's also possible to find platforms that offer this type of game online;
- Jogo do Bicho: This is one of the most popular games of chance in Brazil. Although popular for its in-person play, it's now also possible to find online platforms that offer this type of game;
- Rocket Game: there is a lot of controversy surrounding this type of game, as it is considered a slot machine type game.
It's important to remember that gambling is still prohibited in Brazil, despite the intention of regulatory agencies to legalize it. The main issue is that the online betting sites currently being used in Brazil are based outside the country , a strategy used to evade Brazilian regulations.
Although these platforms need to be regulated by the Ministry of Sports, there has been a growing number of companies offering this type of practice in recent years.
Learn more about the new Sports Betting Regulation Law:
How to block betting and gambling sites safely
Managers must establish an Internet Usage Policy that helps employees understand the importance of adopting practices that are in the company's best interests. The Internet usage policy should specify expected user behavior in the digital environment and the importance of adopting a preventative stance against today's major cyber threats.
access control and website blocking tool . Through this type of resource, managers can ensure more assertive control over everything that happens in the digital environment during working hours.
Although the company can establish rules aimed at safe internet use, there are still users who can access inappropriate websites during work hours and harm business productivity.
Controlling internet access within companies is no longer an alternative, it has become a necessity for businesses that want to remain competitive in the market.
With Lumiun DNS , you can create different access policies to manage blocking rules , customized for betting sites, gambling, social networks, adult content, among other options.
You can block betting and gambling sites with one click with Lumiun DNS . Sign up and get started now—it's free!
