Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has announced a ban on online gambling, just days before an election in which he is seeking a fourth term as the country's leader.
Lula signed a provisional order on Friday that prohibits all sports betting and online casinos. The move comes at a time when the country is preparing for its first-round presidential vote.
The online gambling industry in Brazil was legalised in 2018, but has since been blamed for widespread household income losses due to addiction. Lula called the industry a "cancer" and warned that it must be removed to protect families.
Lula’s new measures must receive congressional approval within 120 days to remain in force. He noted that the industry grew unregulated under former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration.
The ban includes restrictions to prevent children and adolescents from accessing online betting platforms. Lula said that betting companies cannot profit at the expense of Brazilian families’ income and lives.
He shared stories of families who sold everything in their homes because of gambling addiction. The provisional order also includes a bill to criminalise fixed-odds betting offenses.
Earlier this week at the United Nations General Assembly, Lula accused the industry of "transforming addiction into profit" and called for stricter controls.
Flávio Bolsonaro, the candidate Lula is up against, called the crackdown "populist, hypocritical and politically motivated" during a campaign rally in Rio de Janeiro.
Most types of gambling, such as physical casinos and slot machines, remain illegal in Brazil. Since online betting was legalised, its popularity has exploded, and about 59.9% of Brazilian adults support a ban, according to a recent survey by Atlas and Bloomberg.
