Speaking in Brasília at the signing of the Move Brasil law, Lula said he had recently met with people affected by gambling addiction and described the encounter as painful, adding that many Brazilian authorities don’t fully understand how much suffering and addiction the issue is causing. He also accused betting platforms of manipulating people into addiction rather than offering harmless entertainment.
Lula’s comments build on remarks he made earlier in September, when he said that he would put an end to betting. He added that as president, he has to weigh other views and avoid destabilizing the country’s political, economic, and social balance before making a final call. According to reports from Brazilian media, Lula has told government meetings he’s already had three internal discussions on the issue and has personally spoken with people carrying large gambling debts, including cases involving suicide and attempted suicide linked to financial ruin from betting.
President Lula stated:
“I met a young man who made 1,400 Pix transfers in three months, and the Central Bank didn’t detect that this was an excessive number of transfers to the same company? Are we remaining passive while society drowns in debt? Are we remaining passive while society is driven to madness – because this is an illness? People lose their minds; they contemplate suicide or abandoning their homes. So, we are going to take serious action.”
Online betting was legalized and regulated during Lula’s own administration, but he has gradually tightened his tone against the sector as it became a bigger issue ahead of Brazil’s 2026 presidential election.
