Brazil’s president bans sports betting days ahead of election

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva enacted a ban on sports betting websites just days before the presidential election he is campaigning for a fourth term in. The move comes amid growing concerns over the rise of gambling in the country and its potential to trap individuals in debt. Opinion polls have also shown significant public opposition to the industry, which Lula has previously called "a cancer."

Finance Minister Dario Durigan made the announcement at a recent event with Lula, stating that bettors will no longer be able to deposit funds into betting platforms operating in Brazil. "It is no longer possible to deposit money into betting sites in the country," Durigan emphasized.

This ban is part of a series of measures announced by Lula ahead of the first round of voting scheduled for October 4. The president is in a tight race against right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, according to recent polls. Brazil's betting industry has seen explosive growth since the government introduced a regulatory framework in 2023, with extensive advertising campaigns featuring influencers and sports figures across digital platforms and public spaces.

In fact, 13 of the 20 top-flight football clubs in Brazil have betting companies as their main shirt sponsors, and prominent players like Neymar and Vinicius Junior have appeared in ads promoting betting services.

The government issued 85 betting licences, each costing a 30 million reais ($5.7 million) fee, which will not be returned. Durigan also announced a ban on new advertising agreements with betting companies, with existing contracts set to become invalid after October 6. "From that date, there will be no site, no application and no legal sponsorship of bets in the country," the minister declared.

The decision has been met with criticism from Flamengo, one of Brazil's most prominent football clubs. The club decried the measure as a "heavy blow to Brazilian sports," warning that the impact could extend beyond professional football to youth development programs, women's football, Olympic sports, and other competitions.