Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has made the fight against bookmakers a central theme of his reelection campaign. At rallies in Guarulhos and Florianópolis on 18–19 September, he called online betting a 'disease' and promised to end the operations of betting companies in the country. A provisional decree expected this week will restrict bookmaker operations and may ban online casinos outright.
Lula argues the current model drives household debt, fuels gambling addiction and distorts the relationship between football, fans and clubs. He cited cases of Brazilians selling property and hiding debts from their families because of betting dependency. The measures have been under discussion for months with the economic bloc and the central bank, according to the president.
The sharp rhetoric follows a manifesto by major Brazilian football clubs warning that a betting ban would be 'the end of football' in the country. Lula dismissed the claim as a lie, pointing out that Brazil's national team and clubs won World Cups long before bookmakers arrived. 'Football cannot survive at the expense of the poor', he said. He has promised to summon the leadership of Flamengo, Corinthians, Santos, Grêmio and Internacional to discuss the impact of betting on sport and money-laundering controls.
The government is divided. The finance ministry fears the loss of tax revenue — betting income is already built into the 2027 budget. The economic bloc has warned of potential lawsuits and compensation claims from companies operating under current regulation. The sector was legalised in 2024 under the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting and now generates billions of reais, but Lula ties betting to rising household debt, especially among young people without stable income.
Analysts in the Workers' Party campaign believe the issue resonates with heavily indebted segments of the population. It is expected to remain a key theme until the first round of voting.
