President Lula da Silva reaffirms his opposition to online gaming in Brazil amid reelection campaign

(AsiaGameHub) –   Lula da Silva emphasized that he does not possess the sole authority to ban online gaming.

Brazil.- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has once again voiced his disapproval of the online gambling industry as his reelection campaign progresses. Speaking on the state broadcaster TV Brasil’s Sem Censura program, the Workers’ Party leader pointed out that the matter was not entirely within his purview but stated: “If it were up to the president, I would have said this during the campaign. I am in favour of shutting down all those betting sites that are not providing any useful service to this country”.

Lula’s campaign messaging has frequently targeted online betting. He has consistently identified gambling as a contributor to household debt, a position that resonates with the country’s evangelical demographic.

Reflecting on his decision to sign Brazil’s online gambling legislation in late December 2023, Lula contended that any veto of the bill passed by Congress would likely have been overridden.

Highlighting the limitations of his power, he remarked: “It’s not up to me; I don’t own Brazil. Just as I say that [Donald] Trump doesn’t own the world, I don’t own Brazil. I am the President of the Republic. I am part of a tripartite system of institutions that governs the country. There is the National Congress and there is the judiciary.”

Lula asserted that the government had successfully shut down over 90 per cent of illegal betting operations, while acknowledging that half of the market remains unregulated. He also addressed advertising regulations, arguing that betting platforms should adhere to the same standards as other industries, and called for enhanced consumer protections and financial education, characterizing gambling as a public health concern. “Gambling is a disease, an addiction,” he warned.

New bills seek ban on gambling ads

Concurrently, The Mixed Parliamentary Front for the Promotion of Mental Health, comprised of 20 federal deputies and seven senators from various parties, has introduced two bills proposing a ban on gambling advertising and sponsorship of sports and cultural events. These bills will be processed concurrently in the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate.

The parliamentarians have dubbed the initiative “Brazil Against Bets”. The group’s president, Deputy Pedro Campos (PSB-PE), informed Agência Brasil that the Parliamentary Front desires a swift evaluation of the agenda.

“People are overwhelmed, including by betting advertising in general. Beyond the problem of gambling and people’s illnesses, and family debt, the excessive advertising itself is something that has bothered the population,” stated Campos.

In the justification for the bill, the congressman from Pernambuco criticized football commentators who are sponsored by gambling companies and offer betting tips. Meanwhile, congresswoman Tabata Amaral also commented on the issue: “We are dealing with something that is making the Brazilian population sick. Very rarely have I seen such an effective and united lobby of resources,” she declared.

The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), two organizations representing licensed betting companies in the country, have voiced their opposition to the proposals. The Brazilian Association of Illegal Gambling (ANJL) cautioned that such a ban would “represent the greatest and most serious incentive for the operation of illegal platforms”.

The association highlighted that unlicensed platforms, which according to data from the Instituto Esfera constitute 52 per cent of the market, “operate without any oversight, offer no consumer protection, do not prevent access by minors, have no policies against indebtedness, and do not contribute to society through tax collection or support for the sports and cultural sectors.”

The Brazilian Institute of Online Gambling (IBJR) stated that advertising is “a legitimate and necessary tool for any regulated sector of the economy – including online betting.” The Institute asserts that advertising plays a direct role in consumer protection, helping to distinguish companies committed to responsible gambling from those that “operate clandestinely, without offering guarantees, consumer protection, or returns to society.”