Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has known as for laws that will prohibit on-line on line casino video games in the nation, elevating questions on the way forward for Brazil’s lately regulated digital playing market. The remarks got here throughout a nationwide radio and tv deal with related to International Women’s Day, the place Lula mentioned the social and monetary penalties of playing.
The president used the printed to argue that the expansion of online casino-style games has created financial strain inside households. He mentioned the influence usually extends past particular person gamers and impacts household funds extra broadly.
President Raises Concerns About Online Gambling
In his televised message, Lula linked playing habit to monetary pressure in Brazilian houses. He argued that betting exercise carried out via cell phones can redirect cash supposed for on a regular basis family wants.
“Another tragedy affecting Brazilian homes is gambling addiction. Although most addicts are men, the burden falls disproportionately on women. It’s money meant for food, rent, and children’s school that disappears on the cell phone screen,” he acknowledged.
The president additionally pointed to the longstanding prohibition of land-based casinos in Brazil as a part of his reasoning for opposing on-line on line casino video games. According to Lula, the present scenario creates an inconsistency in the nation’s playing coverage.
“[Land-based] casinos are prohibited in Brazil. It makes no sense to allow gambling games like “Jogos do Tigrinho” to enter houses, indebting households via their cell telephones. We will work collectively, uniting the Government, Congress, and the Judiciary, to make sure that these digital casinos don’t proceed to indebt households and destroy houses.”
During the deal with, Lula mentioned the federal authorities would search cooperation from the National Congress and the judiciary in order to pursue measures aimed toward stopping the continued operation of sure on-line on line casino platforms.
Regulation Approved Under Lula’s Administration
The president’s statements come after Brazil launched a regulatory framework for on-line betting that was authorized by Congress on the finish of 2023 and signed into legislation by Lula himself.
The legislative initiative was initially designed to set up oversight of fixed-odds sports activities betting platforms. The proposal got here from the Ministry of Finance underneath Minister Fernando Haddad and was supposed to regulate operators that had already been providing betting companies in Brazil with out a formal authorized construction.
However, the scope of the laws expanded through the parliamentary debate. According to iGaming Brazil, Representative Adolfo Viana launched an modification in the Chamber of Deputies that included authorization for on-line gaming merchandise, which lined digital on line casino video games such because the broadly identified “Jogos do Tigrinho.”
The Federal Senate later tried to take away that growth and restrict the invoice strictly to sports activities betting. Before the ultimate vote, nonetheless, the Chamber of Deputies restored the broader model of the laws, permitting on-line gaming to stay a part of the regulatory framework.
Lula signed the ultimate legislation in December 2023 with out vetoing the expanded provisions. The authorized framework allowed sports activities betting operators and on-line on line casino platforms to function underneath regulated circumstances. The regulatory system governing sports activities betting got here into impact in January 2025.
The president’s latest feedback subsequently symbolize a departure from the sooner coverage route created by that laws.
Market Growth and Industry Response
Since the introduction of the regulatory framework, Brazil’s betting market has grown quickly. Government information signifies that participation has expanded considerably through the first yr of regulated exercise.
Figures from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting throughout the Ministry of Finance present that 25 million distinctive bettors had been recorded in 2025 throughout licensed platforms. The identification course of relied on Brazil’s taxpayer identification numbers, which regulators use to monitor the regulated market.
When counting a number of accounts held by the identical people throughout completely different operators, the variety of energetic betting accounts rises significantly. Authorities reported greater than 87 million energetic accounts throughout the identical interval.
Total registrations throughout platforms exceeded 100 million accounts through the first yr of the regulated market. Gross gaming income generated by regulated betting operators reached roughly $7 billion throughout that point.
Independent analysis has additionally indicated widespread participation. A survey carried out by PoderData discovered that 36 % of Brazilians aged 16 or older have taken half in on-line betting actions. That share represents roughly 56 million folks.
The president’s feedback have prompted responses from organizations related to the playing sector. The Association of Women in the Gaming Industry (AMIG), which represents professionals working in the business in Brazil, expressed concern concerning the remarks.
In a LinkedIn assertion, the affiliation wrote: “By criticising the sector, the President reveals ignorance about a market that generates employment, income and revenue for the government itself. And, more importantly: it employs and values female leadership.”
The group highlighted that the regulated gaming sector contributes tax income and employment alternatives whereas supporting skilled improvement for girls throughout varied areas of the business.
AMIG mentioned its membership contains greater than 1,400 ladies working in roles throughout know-how, compliance, authorized affairs, advertising, funds, sports activities integrity and company governance. According to the group, ladies take part all through the sector’s manufacturing chain and contribute to the event of a regulated market aligned with worldwide requirements.
The affiliation additionally pointed to monetary contributions made by operators, stating that the business generated roughly R$4.5 billion in devoted funds through the earlier yr. Those funds assist assist public coverage packages in Brazil.
While Lula’s statements sign a potential shift in authorities coverage, the main points of any proposed legislative modifications stay unclear. The president indicated that future motion would require coordination between the manager department, Congress and the judiciary.
Brazil heads right into a normal election scheduled for October 4, 2026, with Lula looking for one other time period in workplace. Any transfer to prohibit on-line on line casino platforms would require legislative modifications to the framework established underneath the legislation signed in 2023.
