Janja defends the regulation of betting and holds previous governments accountable.

First Lady Janja Lula da Silva called on Wednesday (June 10) for Brazilians to block online betting platforms . The request was made public through a video posted on her Instagram profile. In the video, the First Lady defended the regulation and government actions in the area of ​​fixed-odds betting. She attributed responsibility to previous governments for authorizing the activity in Brazil.

The recording compiles testimonies from people affected by gambling addiction. The material presents cases of Brazilians who suffered financial losses and personal harm related to online gambling.

In the video, Janja stated without basis or proof that “Brazilian families' debt hit a record high in 2026. Almost 81% of Brazilian households are in debt, according to the Central Bank. And do you know the biggest reason for this? Online betting , the bets , the 'tigrinho' [a Brazilian term for gambling], these casinos in the palm of your hand that promise easy money and deliver debt, loss of income, and even lives. This vicious cycle affects not only those who gamble, but the whole family. And do you know who carries this burden the most? We women. Mothers, wives, daughters, who need to reorganize their household finances, deal with debt, and face the emotional impacts of gambling addiction on their families. It was the last two governments that authorized gambling in Brazil, without worrying about how it would affect the lives of families.”

The First Lady defended the measures adopted by the current government, such as taxation, strict rules for opening new betting sites , and the creation of a unified self-exclusion platform that blocks the CPF (Brazilian taxpayer ID) on all authorized betting sites at once. “And to prevent betting sites from continuing to operate without any control in our country, President Lula regulated their operation, taxing them and imposing strict rules for opening new betting sites . The Ministry of Finance created a self-exclusion platform that blocks your CPF on all authorized betting sites at once, which prevents anyone from using your data to bet without your consent. Those who renegotiate their debts from the new development also have their CPF blocked for betting for 12 months. After all, there's no point in negotiating the debt and continuing to lose money with illegal gambling, right?”

Janja also stated that “It is unacceptable that dreams, salaries, and lives are transformed into profit for those who promote and for the platforms that feed on people's vulnerability and indebtedness. Fighting this is also protecting families. Choose the right side of influence.”

Official data contradicts Janja's opinion.

The Ministry of Finance released data on the regulated fixed-odds betting market in Brazil. In 2025, the sector recorded gross revenue of R$ 36,9 billion.

Official data indicates that 25,2 million Brazilians placed bets that year. This number represents 12,96% of the Brazilian population. The average monthly amount spent per bettor was R$ 122.

An expert commented to BNData: "We don't know if it's a mistake or bad faith, but it's always easier to blame Tigrinho."