Brazil’s President Lula pushes to ban casinos during national address
Table of contents
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva publicly advocates for legislation to prohibit online casino platforms in Brazil.
- Comments mark policy reversal after Lula signed legislation legalising online betting and casino games in December 2023.
- The president links gambling addiction to financial stress affecting Brazilian households during Women’s Day address.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called for Brazil to introduce legislation banning online casino games during a national broadcast tied to International Women’s Day.
The nearly six-minute address aired on 7 March 2026 and represents a significant policy shift from the regulatory framework approved under his administration in 2023.
The president linked gambling addiction to financial hardship within households and argued that women often bear the consequences of gambling losses. Lula specifically criticised mobile casino games that operate through smartphones.
Financial impact on families
During the broadcast recorded at the Palácio da Alvorada, Lula stated that gambling addiction creates financial strain inside families.
“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 said.
The president also questioned the logic of allowing online casino platforms whilst land-based casinos remain prohibited under Brazilian law. He singled out “Jogo do Tigrinho” (Tiger Game), a popular lottery-style online casino product.
“[Land-based] casinos are prohibited in Brazil. It makes no sense to allow gambling games like ‘Jogo do Tigrinho’ to enter homes, indebting families through their cell phones. We will work together, uniting the Government, Congress, and the Judiciary, to ensure that these digital casinos do not continue to indebt families and destroy homes,” Lula stated.
Reversal from 2023 position
Brazil currently operates under gambling legislation approved by the National Congress at the end of 2023. The law created a regulatory structure for both online betting platforms and digital casino games.
Finance Minister Fernando Haddad originally introduced the proposal with the primary aim of regulating sports betting operators already serving Brazilian customers without a legal framework. During debate in the Chamber of Deputies, Representative Adolfo Viana introduced an amendment expanding the bill to include online casino games.
The Federal Senate later attempted to restrict the legislation to sports betting only by removing casino provisions. The Chamber of Deputies restored the clause before the final vote.
Lula signed the law in December 2023 without vetoing the expanded language. Regulation governing sports betting platforms took effect in January 2025.
According to the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting, 84 companies were authorised to operate in Brazil’s sports betting and online gaming market as of February 2026.
The president’s recent comments therefore signal a potential shift in policy direction. Government officials have not yet released specific legislative proposals connected to the potential ban.
Industry backlash and concerns
The gambling industry has responded critically to Lula’s announcement. Industry executives have warned that the comments could damage investor confidence in the Brazilian market and questioned the feasibility of implementing a ban after creating a regulated framework.
Legal experts have noted that reversing the system would require a new legislative process and broad political support, which currently appears unlikely. Industry representatives have also cautioned that banning online betting would drive players to unlicensed operators rather than eliminating gambling activity.
According to the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting, the regulated market registered 25 million unique bettors in 2025. Regulated market gross gaming revenue reached approximately BRL37bn ($6.9bn) during the first year of regulation, with the sector generating BRL 1.5 billion in tax revenue in January alone.
The speech also addressed other government priorities including violence against women and labour conditions. Lula reiterated support for changes to work schedules, particularly ending the 6×1 schedule where workers have only one day off per week.
Operators including Superbet have continued to expand their content offerings in Brazil despite the regulatory uncertainty, whilst prediction markets have also entered the market through international partnerships.
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About the author
Bianca Máthe
Bianca Mathe joined the iGaming industry in 2018 and has since built extensive experience across multiple verticals, working with international gaming organizations on editorial, marketing, and media strategy. She brings a strong understanding of the regulatory, commercial, and technological forces shaping the global iGaming sector.
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