Brazil’s government announced this Friday a ban on online betting, sparking protests from major football clubs while receiving strong public support.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a decree on Friday banning the operation, offering, brokering and advertising of sports betting and online casinos across the country, pushing the measure through despite fierce resistance from football clubs, most of which are heavily sponsored by betting companies.
The decision reverses the regulatory framework the government itself had pursued since 2023 and comes just nine days before the first round of general elections, scheduled for Sunday, October 3.
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The decree takes effect automatically upon publication in the Official Gazette, though Congress will have up to 120 days to determine whether it remains in force.
The text includes a brief transition period: starting October 6, two days after the first round of presidential and legislative voting, betting websites, apps and advertising will no longer be permitted to operate. “As of today, it is no longer possible to place bets on gambling websites in the country. Users will be able to withdraw their remaining balance until 11:59 P.M. on October 5,” Brazilian Finance Minister Darío Durigan said.
Acabamos com as bets no Brasil.
As bets estão destruindo a renda das famílias, afetando a saúde mental e levando sofrimento para dentro de casa. Por isso, tomamos uma decisão firme, de fazer o que tem que ser feito: acabar com as bets.
E, para quem ficou endividado, vamos… pic.twitter.com/jWJfSP5ESy
— Lula (@LulaOficial) September 25, 2026
President Lula described the measure as “tough, drastic and necessary” against what he called a “cancer.”
In Lula’s view, Brazilian society was left “completely unprotected” against digital betting. “It’s something chilling; it reminded me of the beginning of the crack epidemic in this country. Online betting is the same thing, but at a much higher level, because it’s digital and within everyone’s reach,” Lula affirmed after signing the decree in São Paulo.
Lula said his decision was shaped by testimonies from victims he spoke with directly, people who described suffering major financial losses and the loss of close family members tied to the impact of digital betting.
“This isn’t a joke, it’s something very serious that is affecting the mental health of millions of people, poor people,” Lula said. “It’s like cancer, either we remove the tumor or the tumor destroys us,” he added.
Football Clubs Push Back
On social media, Lula pointed out the Desenrola program, launched in May, which aims to restructure debt and expand access to credit under favorable terms for those affected by high-interest, low-value debts. “We will put the state at the service of families,” he affirmed.
Responding to criticism from Brazil’s top football clubs, including Flamengo, Palmeiras, São Paulo and Fluminense, which have signed lucrative sponsorship deals with betting companies in recent years, Lula recalled that Brazil’s national team won five World Cups “without the bets.” Under the slogan “The End of Brazilian Football,” the clubs had jointly published a manifesto defending the existing regulatory framework, arguing that betting revenue is one of their main sources of sponsorship and advertising income, sustaining squad competitiveness as well as youth academy and infrastructure development.
O Brasil levou anos discutindo como regulamentar as apostas esportivas. O Congresso aprovou, o governo regulamentou, empresas pagaram para operar legalmente no país, fizeram investimentos e passaram a cumprir regras de fiscalização, tributação e proteção ao consumidor.
Não se… pic.twitter.com/RxK2nBe6S7
— Flamengo (@Flamengo) September 25, 2026
A day before Friday’s announcement, Brazil’s Justice Ministry had also ordered the removal of 1,367 pages and profiles on Facebook and Instagram promoting unregulated betting platforms, while the government separately introduced legislation to criminalize the operation of illegal online betting, carrying penalties of up to six years in prison.
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Is it smart to do this immediately before an election?