Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called for legislation to prohibit online casino games during a national radio and television address linked to International Women’s Day, a shift from the regulatory framework approved under his own administration in 2023.
The nearly six-minute message was broadcast nationwide on Saturday night and had been recorded two days earlier at the Palácio da Alvorada. Lula linked gambling addiction to financial pressures within Brazilian households and said the consequences often fall on women.
“Another tragedy affecting Brazilian homes is gambling addiction. Although most addicts are men, the burden falls disproportionately on women. It’s money meant for food, rent, and children’s school that disappears on the cell phone screen,” he stated.
“[Land-based] casinos are prohibited in Brazil. It makes no sense to allow gambling games like “Jogos do Tigrinho” to enter homes, indebting families through their cell phones. We will work together, uniting the Government, Congress, and the Judiciary, to ensure that these digital casinos do not continue to indebt families and destroy homes.”
The president said the government would coordinate with the National Congress and the judiciary to introduce measures aimed at preventing the continued operation of online casino-style platforms in the country. Lula cited popular online games such as the “Jogos do Tigrinho” (“Tiger game”, a lottery-type drawing popular in Brazil) as examples of the activity he believes should be restricted.
Brazil currently operates under a regulatory framework for online betting approved by the National Congress at the end of 2023. The legislation was originally introduced by the Ministry of Finance, under Minister Fernando Haddad, with the primary objective of regulating sports betting platforms that were already operating in Brazil without a legal framework.
During debate in the Chamber of Deputies, Representative Adolfo Viana (PSDB-BA) introduced an amendment that expanded the bill to include authorization for so-called online games, a category that covers online casinos such as the “Tiger game.” The modification broadened the scope of the original government proposal.
The Federal Senate later attempted to limit the legislation exclusively to sports betting by removing the provision authorizing online casino games. However, the Chamber of Deputies reinstated the clause before the final vote.
President Lula subsequently signed the legislation into law in December 2023 without vetoing the expanded provisions. The law created a legal framework allowing both sports betting operators and online casino platforms to function within regulated conditions in Brazil. The regulation governing sports betting came into effect in January 2025.
The president’s latest remarks, therefore, contrast with the policy direction established by the earlier legislation. While the law sanctioned by Lula permitted the operation of digital betting platforms, the government is now signaling a willingness to pursue legal changes that could prohibit certain forms of online gambling.
In his address, Lula said losses from online betting frequently undermine family finances and redirect resources intended for essential household expenses.
The speech also included references to other government priorities connected to women’s welfare. Lula spoke about federal actions aimed at combating gender-based violence and stated that “Violence against women is not a private matter where nobody interferes.”
