Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has announced a major crackdown on sports betting and online casinos, warning that the rapid growth of digital gambling is fueling debt and financial problems inside Brazilian households.
Lula compared the spread of online betting to the early expansion of crack cocaine in Brazil, arguing that smartphones have made gambling constantly accessible — including to young people and vulnerable households. The proposed measure would prohibit federally authorized online betting platforms, but it still needs approval from Congress to become permanent.
The move comes just days before Brazil's first round of general elections and follows the explosive growth of the country's betting industry. In 2025, federally authorized betting platforms reportedly registered around 25 million users and received deposits worth 220.6 billion reais, or approximately $42.5 billion.
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