President Lula bans sports betting ahead of Brazil’s election

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has announced an immediate ban on sports betting platforms, a dramatic move that comes just days before the country’s presidential election.

The ban, unveiled on Friday, September 25, 2026, halts deposits on betting sites and prohibits new advertising and sponsorship agreements with betting companies, marking a major policy shift in one of the world’s fastest-growing gambling markets.

Finance Minister Dario Durigan, who announced the measure alongside Lula, said no further deposits would be allowed on betting platforms.

He added that existing sponsorship contracts would expire after October 6, after which betting sites, applications and legal sponsorships would no longer operate in Brazil.

The decision comes ahead of the October 4 presidential election, where Lula is seeking a fourth term and is locked in a tight race with right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro.

Defending the move, Lula described gambling as a growing public health crisis, saying more than 60 billion reais (about $11 billion) had been lost by Brazilian families to legal betting companies.

“I decided to take a necessary, tough and drastic measure. It’s like cancer. Either we remove the tumour, or it kills us,” the president said.

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Sports betting has expanded rapidly since Brazil introduced a regulatory framework in 2023. The industry has become a major source of funding for football clubs, with 13 of the country’s 20 top-flight teams carrying betting companies as their principal shirt sponsors. Brazilian stars Neymar and Vinicius Junior have also featured prominently in betting advertisements.

The ban has drawn criticism from football clubs and the betting industry.

Flamengo described the decision as a major setback for Brazilian sports, warning it could affect professional football, women’s football, youth academies and other sporting competitions.

Opposition candidate Flavio Bolsonaro accused Lula of introducing an “election-driven” policy, while the National Association of Games and Lotteries warned that banning licensed operators could drive gamblers to illegal platforms and reduce government tax revenue.

The measure still requires approval by Congress before it can become permanent law.