In a decisive move clocking in weeks before the presidential poll, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva invoked executive powers to prohibit all online sports betting and casino operations in Brazil.
The order, described by Lula as a “cancer” that must be removed, follows a decade‑long debate over the legalization of internet gambling, which has reportedly siphoned household incomes and pushed families to abandon homes and assets in pursuit of quick wins.
Lula’s crackdown comes amid a neck‑and‑neck race with Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, and must survive a 120‑day congressional review to remain in force.
The president also signed a bill targeting fixed‑odds betting fraud, reinforcing his message that “no profit should be made at the expense of Brazilian families.”
While critics argue the measure is a populist spur‑of‑the‑moment tactic, supporters point to a 60‑percent public backing for a ban and the need for stricter regulation to curb societal harm.
