Brazil’s Top Two Presidential Opponents Agree On Online Gambling Restrictions

Brazil’s presidential elections are to be held soon on October 4, and the two main candidates for the position – current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his opponent Flávio Bolsonaro – are both trying to get some last-minute support. Interestingly, however, both have outlined ideas for putting strict restrictions on gambling, as public sentiment in the country has shifted somewhat against the industry. Lula and Bolsonaro Call For More Restrictions on Online Gambling Lula has been highly critical of online gambling, speaking out against the betting industry both at campaign rallies and in a speech to the United Nations this week. He said he would seek to end bookmakers’ operations in the country, arguing that they contribute to harmful behaviors such as addiction and financial hardship. In fact, the president’s administration has been preparing a Provisional measure aimed at further restricting gambling operators. However, while Bolsonaro might have different views on many things compared to his political opponent, he seems to agree quite a bit with Lula’s views on gambling. Earlier this week, he even called for a ban on online casinos. According to a Bloomberg report conducted by AtlasIntel, online casinos currently account for approximately 70% to 80% of licensed operators’ revenue in the country. During a livestream, Bolsonaro argued that betting on real sporting events, such as soccer, volleyball, or tennis matches, is subject to some degree of oversight, whereas online casinos should be shut down. Brazil’s Ministry of Finance, however, has been reluctant to support changes, citing its understanding of the betting industry and concerns that reforms could reduce the tax revenue generated by the sector. The Ministry also shared some figures, showing that 25 million Brazilians placed wagers in 2025. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro cited the figure as part of his criticism of Lula, arguing that the president has failed to curb the growth of betting through both legal and illegal channels. The Atlas poll also found that 36% of respondents held Lula responsible for the expansion of online gambling, while 25% attributed it to former president Jair Bolsonaro, Bolsonaro’s father. Majority of Brazilians Oppose Online Gambling Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that both presidential candidates have leaned into the anti-gambling sentiment that has been gripping the country recently. According to the previously mentioned Bloomberg survey, 75% of Brazilian voters favored banning online betting in the country, while just 17% opposed the measure. A large part of that objection might be linked to the large number of Brazilians who are experiencing some form of harm from gambling. According to some recent reports, over 2 million Brazilians are dealing with a gambling addiction problem. Meanwhile, another 7.5 million are considered problem gamblers.