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Brazil's Lula bans online sports betting by decree, calling it a 'disease'
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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on September 25, 2026, announced a national ban on online sports betting platforms, known as 'bets,' just days before the first round of the presidential election on October 4. Lula, facing a tight race against conservative candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, framed the ban as a public health measure, comparing the spread of betting addiction to 'crack' and 'cancer' and stating that the industry is 'endebting and destroying homes.' The ban, enacted by decree, takes effect on October 6 and targets all sites, apps, and sponsorships, including those of major football clubs. Lula's move is seen as a political gamble, as polls show strong public support for the ban, with 75% of Brazilians favoring it. However, Flavio Bolsonaro criticized the decision as desperate, noting that Lula's government had previously regulated the sector in 2023. Industry associations warn that the ban will drive bettors to unregulated clandestine sites. The measure requires parliamentary approval to become permanent law.
Source report
Sao Paulo – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday, September 25, banned online sports betting in the country, just days before he seeks re-election against conservative candidate Flavio Bolsonaro.
The platforms, known in Brazil as "bets," have exploded in popularity in recent years. The government argues their growth poses a public health crisis by fostering addictive behavior and contributing to household debt.
"The multimillion-dollar bets industry turns vice into profit. Its dizzying spread is indebting and destroying households," Lula declared on Tuesday at the UN General Assembly in New York.
The sweeping measure, which targets some of the country's largest football clubs, represents a significant gamble by the 80-year-old incumbent ahead of the vote. He will face Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, the son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, in the first round of the presidential election on October 4. Polls show the two candidates in a tight race.
Recent opinion surveys indicate strong voter rejection of online betting platforms, a phenomenon Lula has compared to "crack" and "cancer."
"Either we remove the tumor, or the tumor will kill us," he said during a ceremony in the economic capital, Sao Paulo.
The president signed decrees imposing the ban, which take effect immediately but must later be approved by Parliament to become permanent law.
Eight in Ten Families in Debt
"As of October 6, there will be no more sites, no more apps, and no more legal sponsorship of sports betting in the country," said Economy Minister Dario Durigan.
In this football-obsessed nation, 13 of the 20 first-division clubs feature betting sites as their main shirt sponsor. Stars Neymar and Vinicius Junior are among the most recognizable faces of betting advertising in Brazil. Several clubs, including Flamengo, the most popular and reigning champion, have denounced the ban, arguing that sponsorship from betting companies is essential to their finances.
According to data published in August by the National Confederation of Commerce, eight out of ten Brazilian families face some form of debt. A joint study by Brazilian states found that bets absorbed 62.5 billion reais (over €10 billion) from household income in 2025.
Beyond sports betting, the platforms also offer casino games such as roulette. A poll published Wednesday by Atlas and Bloomberg found that three-quarters of Brazilians support a total ban on online betting.
Political Reactions
"Lula is desperate. He has done nothing in four years, and on the eve of the election, he wants to try to make people believe that he wasn't the one who approved and regulated online casinos," Flavio Bolsonaro said Friday.
The conservative candidate opposes banning sports betting, which he distinguishes from online casinos, arguing they are subject to "a certain form of control."
Background
Bets were authorized in Brazil in 2018 under the presidency of Michel Temer and were regulated at the end of 2023 by the Lula government. To operate legally, platforms had to comply with a series of rules and pay taxes, which was not previously required. Several industry associations have argued that the ban will not "protect society," claiming that bettors will simply "migrate" to unregulated clandestine sites.
Le Monde with AFP
Source
Politique : Toute l’actualité sur Le Monde.fr.Western
Part of this Story
Brazil's Lula bans online gambling days before tight presidential election