Brazil’s President Lula Bans Online Betting Ahead of Election

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed an order banning fixed-odds betting on September 25, 2026. This action occurred just over a week before the first round of the presidential election.

What Happened

On September 25, 2026, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva enacted a provisional executive order prohibiting fixed-odds betting. This measure takes effect immediately, though it requires congressional approval within 120 days to become permanent, according to the Baltimore Sun. The President stated the decision aims to address the issue of families accumulating debt.

The order explicitly terminates the operation, offering, intermediation, and advertising of betting activities (Baltimore Sun). It also mandates that new deposits into betting accounts are forbidden, and users have until October 5 to withdraw existing funds, as reported by Valor Econômico. Furthermore, Lula’s administration has drafted legislation to criminalize activities such as promoting fixed-odds betting and using personal data for solicitation, classifying these as offenses related to the most prevalent type of online sports betting.

Key Details

• The provisional executive order took effect immediately but requires congressional ratification within 120 days to remain valid, according to the Baltimore Sun.
• Users of betting platforms are instructed to withdraw their funds by October 5, and new deposits are no longer permitted (Valor Econômico).
• President Lula stated his decision was a “hard, drastic and necessary measure” to address what he termed a “cancer” (Baltimore Sun).
• A 2025 study by the Institute of Studies for Health Policies estimated that betting and gambling cost Brazilian society 38.8 billion reais ($7 billion) annually (Baltimore Sun).

Why It Matters

This ban on fixed-odds betting impacts a market estimated to generate over $4 billion annually in Brazil, positioning it as one of the largest global markets (Baltimore Sun). The President has consistently criticized the industry, accusing it of “transforming addiction into profit” and “destroying homes” (Baltimore Sun). The move follows earlier regulatory efforts in December 2023, when Lula signed a law to regulate and tax betting companies, and subsequently blocked over 2,000 irregular betting websites (Baltimore Sun).

The decision carries political implications, with Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, a rival in the upcoming election, labeling it an “electoral measure” (Baltimore Sun). Previous attempts to impose tax hikes on online betting and virtual casinos were struck down by lawmakers in October 2025 (Baltimore Sun). Business analysts indicated that soccer clubs were warned by betting companies that sponsorships would cease if a ban was implemented, reportedly leading some to claim this could signify “the end of Brazilian soccer” (Baltimore Sun).

What’s Next

The provisional executive order requires congressional approval within 120 days to remain in effect (Baltimore Sun).

Originally reported by Baltimore Sun·Published 25 Sep 2026, 23:48