Brazilian President Lula is preparing to tighten restrictions on gambling

Government Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reportedly preparing Temporary measure this could introduce new restrictions on betting operators and potentially ban certain segments of the industry. The news comes shortly before upcoming presidential elections in October.

President Lula wants to limit gambling

According to CNN BrazilThe government is considering tightening restrictions on betting advertising, including a potential ban on online casino games. Under the leadership Office of the Chief of StaffThe proposal aims to immediately introduce market restrictions, bypassing the lengthy legislative process required to get a bill through Parliament. National Congress.

The government is considering tough sanctions, including outright bans on certain categories such as online casinos and some features offered by sports betting platforms. The move to revise the proposal and present it to lawmakers next week is also driven by political considerations.

Internal voting Workers’ Party indicates that three out of four Brazilians oppose the practices of gaming platforms. Opposition is even stronger among young people and women, key demographics in President Lula’s election campaign.

With elections less than 30 days away, collecting these demographic data could be key for Lula. Internal survey of the Workers’ Party, words of a journalist Lauro Jardim in his Sunday column for About Globoreportedly shows Lula’s approval ratings have fallen to their lowest level in over a year.

However, Lula’s strategy of gaining support by imposing strict restrictions on gambling is not entirely without merit. According to a recent study, more than two million Brazilians suffer from clinical gambling addictionwhile the other seven and a half million classified as problem gamblers.

While some of the president’s advisers are weighing the potential impact of tighter restrictions, another faction in the government is advocating a more limited approach. Ministry of Financewhich has overseen regulation of the sector in recent years, opposes stricter measures. Finance Minister Dario Durigan The challenge is to convince Lula that maintaining a well-regulated betting industry is important for Brazil’s public finances, as by 2025 the country collected almost 10 billion Brazilian reais (US$1.97 billion). tax revenue from the licensed betting sector.

What did Lula say?

According to CNN Brazil, President Lula said he personally favors ending betting, arguing that it is harmful to society. However, he acknowledged that as president he must consider broader political, economic and social stability and consult with others before taking any action.

Lula also stressed that the government needs to act, either by taking radical measures or taking a more limited approach. He explained that he had convened the meeting to hear the opinion of representatives of the society, and noted that the decision had already been largely formed, and the purpose of the meeting was to help finalize and formalize the government’s course of action.

Despite Lula’s goals of introducing strict restrictions on gambling in the country, many companies remain adamant in their desire to capture the large player base that is Brazil. For example, Playtech recently announced a launch in Brazil next year after announcing strong growth in the first half of 2026.