Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced a ban on online gambling through a provisional order signed on Friday, prohibiting all sports betting and online casinos. The action comes slightly more than a week before the first round of voting in Brazil’s presidential election, where the 80-year-old leader is competing for a fourth term against Flávio Bolsonaro, son of incarcerated former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Lula characterized the online gambling industry as a “cancer” during his announcement, stating that decisive action was necessary to prevent further harm to Brazilian society. He noted that while the industry was initially legalized in 2018, it subsequently expanded without adequate regulatory oversight during Bolsonaro’s tenure. The president highlighted particular concerns regarding the lack of restrictions preventing children and adolescents from accessing online betting platforms.
The provisional order requires congressional approval within 120 days to remain in effect. Additionally, Lula signed separate legislation to penalize criminal offenses related to fixed-odds betting. At the United Nations General Assembly earlier in the week, he had described the industry as “transforming addiction into profit.”
The gambling sector has faced criticism over its contribution to household income losses through addiction issues since its legalization. Lula referenced accounts from families who reported selling household possessions due to gambling-related financial crises. A recent survey found that approximately 59.9% of Brazilian adults support banning internet betting.
Flávio Bolsonaro responded to the gambling crackdown by characterizing it as “populist, hypocritical and politically motivated” during a campaign event in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. Most traditional forms of gambling, including casinos and slot machines, remain illegal in Brazil.
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