Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he had a 'personal disposition' to eliminate gambling in the country. Speaking on the Desce a Letra Show podcast, he compared betting addiction to crack cocaine: 'Do you remember when crack emerged? The addicted guy would come home and sell his gas cylinder. Betting is like that.'
The statement comes as the regulated betting market is already operating — operators hold licences and run legal activity. Lula did not clarify whether he meant a full product ban or advertising restrictions only.
For affiliates and operators, it signals high regulatory risk. The Brazilian market was considered one of the largest in Latin America after legalisation.
