As sports betting expands across Brazil and its impact on mental health grows, the Superior Labor Court (TST) expects an increase in cases involving workers with gambling addiction and is internally discussing whether to apply to gambling disorder the same legal standards currently used in cases involving alcoholism.The TST has an established precedent stating that the dismissal of a worker with a stigmatized illness, such as alcoholism, is presumed to be discriminatory and may result in reinstatement. Some of the court's justices believe that clinically diagnosed gambling addiction could fall under the same protection.
The court is expected to discuss the issue during this semester. Its goal is to establish guidelines that judges across the country should follow.
The number of temporary disability benefits granted because of pathological gambling has increased by 6,140% over the past decade. While only five sickness benefits related to gambling addiction were approved in 2016, that number rose to 312 in 2025, according to data from Brazil's Ministry of Social Security.
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