Brazil Bans Online Betting
Brazilian President Lula Bans Online Betting and Gambling to Curb Household Debt
Anonymous
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed an order banning online sports betting and gambling, including the operation and advertising of betting platforms, saying the measure is intended to curb addiction, household debt and harm to families. The order takes effect immediately, bars new deposits and gives users until October 5 to withdraw remaining funds, with platforms set to shut down afterward. It must receive congressional approval within 120 days to remain in force, and the government is also considering criminal penalties tied to promoting betting and soliciting bettors. The ban has broad public support but faces resistance from football clubs that rely on betting-company sponsorships; a political rival also criticized its timing ahead of the election.
Key Points
1
The ban reverses a regulatory framework the Brazilian government had pursued since 2023, according to one report.
2
Lula said testimonies from people he had spoken with directly—who described severe financial losses and losing close family members—helped shape his decision. He also compared the rise of online betting to the early days of Brazil’s crack epidemic.
3
A 2025 study by the nonprofit Institute of Studies for Health Policies estimated that betting and gambling cost Brazilian society 38.8 billion reais annually and were associated with increased suicide and depression; the central bank estimated Brazilians spend about 30 billion reais on bets each month.
4
After the October 5 withdrawal deadline, betting platforms are to send information about outstanding user balances to the relevant financial institutions on October 7 and 8, according to the decree’s schedule.
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