Lula Steps Up Criticism of Betting Ahead of Election Campaign
Brazil.- 18 August 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has intensified his criticism of online betting amid growing political and social debate over the impact of the regulated sector.
His position comes ahead of the election campaign and coincides with new restrictions preventing certain groups from accessing betting platforms.
Betting Becomes a Political Issue
Government allies believe public opposition to online gambling could become politically significant, particularly among lower-income voters.
An AtlasIntel/Bloomberg survey published in late April indicated that 70% of surveyed Brazilians supported banning online gambling.
A study by the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) also estimated that 10.9 million Brazilians exhibit risky gambling behaviour, while another 1.4 million may already experience gambling disorders.
Lula Renews Criticism of Betting
On 13 August, Lula again publicly addressed the risks associated with gambling.
He said:
“The misfortune of gambling is that you spend your life betting to recover the losses from the first game.”
In April, Lula had already raised the possibility of banning betting operators if the Government concluded that the activity was causing levels of harm incompatible with its continued operation.
The President also acknowledged that a move of that scale would depend on Congress.
More Restrictive Measures Discussed
Within the Government, advisers have discussed the possibility of using a Provisional Measure to temporarily prohibit betting.
The idea has been compared with the decision taken in 1946 by then-President Eurico Gaspar Dutra to prohibit casinos and other forms of gambling.
However, such a move is still considered unlikely because of expected resistance in Congress and the political and legal implications of a nationwide ban.
Five Million Accounts Blocked
Finance Minister Dario Durigan said on 13 August that approximately five million accounts are currently blocked across online betting platforms.
The total includes:
- 800,000 people enrolled in the Novo Desenrola programme, which prohibits them from betting for one year.
- 1.2 million users who voluntarily excluded themselves from betting platforms.
- Three million beneficiaries of social programmes, including Bolsa Família, who are prohibited from gambling.
The restrictions form part of the Government’s broader controls over the regulated market.
Betting Revenue for Federal Police
During August, Lula also approved legislation progressively allocating up to 3% of certain sports betting revenues to Brazil’s Federal Police.
The measure is designed to strengthen funding for security and enforcement activities.
The Government is also continuing enforcement action against illegal operators and platforms operating outside the federal licensing system.
Regulation Debate
The political debate comes in a complex context for the Government.
Although fixed-odds betting was originally authorised in 2018 under former President Michel Temer, the market was subsequently regulated under Lula’s administration.
The current Government introduced licensing, taxation, operating rules and enforcement mechanisms while also targeting illegal operators.
However, part of the public continues to associate the growth of online betting with the current administration.
Broader Political Strategy
Criticism of betting forms part of a wider political discourse that also includes major technology companies and the financial sector.
Presidential allies believe these themes could resonate with voters critical of large corporations, banks and certain digital businesses.
This element, however, represents political analysis of the Government’s electoral strategy rather than a new regulatory policy that has already been enacted.
Next Steps or Impact
The future of online betting could become an important issue during Brazil’s election campaign.
For now, the regulated market remains in place and no formal decision has been taken to prohibit it.
Concrete Government measures remain focused on restricting access for specific groups, combating illegal operators and strengthening player-protection and enforcement mechanisms.
Future developments will depend on decisions by both the Executive and Congress, as well as the political pressure generated during the campaign.
Editó: @fonta
