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Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he would shut down bookmakers if it were entirely up to him, escalating his criticism of the country’s gambling sector during a televised appearance as political attention turns toward the 2026 election.
Speaking on ICL News to hosts Eduardo Moreira and Leandro Demori, Lula directly questioned the scale of betting activity in Brazil, stating: “It’s not possible to continue with this unbridled game in this country.” He added that if the decision were entirely his, all bookmakers would be closed.
The online gaming and sports betting regulatory framework came into force at the start of 2025 after Lula signed Bill PL 2626/2023 into law in late 2023. Despite approving the legislation, Lula moved to limit certain provisions through a partial veto, blocking some tax exemptions before the law took effect.
His administration has since continued to tighten fiscal measures, including approving a phased tax increase in January this year that will raise the rate on operators to 15% by 2028.
The legalization of sports betting itself predates Lula’s current term, having been introduced under former president Michel Temer. Lula’s approach has instead focused on reassessing the sector’s role and impact.
Expanding on that position, he said: “I’ve been discussing this business for 15 days. I’ve been debating exactly that: if they cause the harm we think they cause, why not end the bets? Or else regulate so that there are not so many in Brazil, if they have any use.”
He also dismissed arguments that betting is essential to sustain football, saying, “Football survived for more than a century without them.”
The latest comments follow statements made last month, when Lula pointed to the rapid expansion of online gambling and raised concerns about its financial and social consequences. His rhetoric has become increasingly direct as those concerns have taken a more prominent place in policy discussions.
With 2026 marking an election year, Lula has indicated his intention to seek another term, though his candidacy has not yet been formally confirmed.