Lula defends banning virtual casinos and the "tiger game" in Brazil.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended the creation of legislation to prohibit virtual gambling in Brazil. The national radio and television address took place on Saturday (7) in reference to International Women's Day, celebrated this Sunday (8). The recording was made at the Palácio da Alvorada on Thursday (5). Check out at the end of the report the reaction in the mainstream media to Lula's statement on online betting , a topic that gained prominence after the government itself regulated these platforms in 2023.
The Workers' Party member highlighted platforms like the "tiger game" as a target of the future measure. Lula argued that these games violate Brazilian law, which prohibits casinos in the country. The speech lasted approximately six minutes.
The president linked addiction to online gambling to the situation of Brazilian women. According to him, the financial consequences fall on them. Lula highlighted that the majority of gamblers are men, but it is women who bear the brunt of the losses in the household budget.
“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. Casinos are prohibited in Brazil. It makes no sense to allow illegal gambling games into homes, indebting families through cell phones,” he stated.
The president stated that the government will coordinate with other branches of power to reverse the current situation. Lula indicated that the issue will likely be addressed by the National Congress.
"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," he added.
The government approved the regulation of online betting in 2023.
The Lula government itself approved the regulation of online betting in December 2023. The law allowed the operation of these digital platforms in the country. The regulation of sports betting came into effect in Brazil in January 2025.
The legislation was approved by the National Congress at the end of 2023. The original bill was submitted by the Ministry of Finance, under the responsibility of Minister Fernando Haddad. The initial focus was on regulating sports betting, known as " bets ," which already operated in Brazil without a regulatory framework.
During the legislative process in the Chamber of Deputies, Representative Adolfo Viana (PSDB-BA) inserted authorization for " online games " into the text. This category includes virtual casinos, including "Tigrinho." The inclusion modified the original scope of the government's bill.
The Federal Senate attempted to restrict the scope of the regulation. The Upper House sought to limit the regulation exclusively to sports betting. The attempt failed. The Chamber of Deputies reinstated the provision authorizing online gambling before the final vote.
Lula signed the law without vetoes, regulating both sports betting and online casinos . The measure established the legal framework for the operation of these platforms in Brazilian territory. The current presidential statement creates a contradiction between the policy implemented by the government in 2023 and the current discourse.
The call for a ban on digital casinos represents a shift from the government's own policy. The regulation sanctioned by the president allowed these platforms to operate legally. The Executive branch is now signaling a willingness to restrict or prohibit this type of activity. This change in position occurs in a span of just over two years.
Statement is part of a strategy targeting female voters.
Aides at the Presidential Palace believe the statement is part of a government communication strategy. The goal is to strengthen dialogue with female voters, a segment considered a priority for the 2026 presidential race. The choice of International Women's Day as the occasion for the statement reinforces this interpretation.
The president established a connection between the problem of online gambling and its impact on women's lives. Lula emphasized that essential expenses are compromised when resources are diverted to online gambling platforms . The presidential speech linked different issues to the question of women's quality of life in the country.
Lula addressed the fight against femicide during his speech. The president presented recent actions implemented by the federal government on the subject. "Violence against women is not a private matter where nobody interferes," he stated. The head of the Executive branch outlined recent initiatives by the federal government related to combating violence against women.
The president also expressed his support for ending the 6x1 work schedule. According to Lula, this is a relevant issue for Brazilian women. The head of the Executive branch linked the labor issue to improving the quality of life for the female segment of the population.
The president announced that the Digital ECA (Statute of Children and Adolescents) will come into effect next week. Lula presented the issues of working hours and gambling addiction as problems affecting Brazilian households. Both issues were presented as problems that particularly affect women.
Lula's statement regarding online betting.
“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. 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.”
O Globo: Lula defends law to prevent 'little tiger game' in televised address: 'Casinos are prohibited in the country'
In a speech alluding to Women's Day, the president also defended ending the 6x1 work schedule; online betting was regulated by a law he signed in 2023.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended on Saturday the approval of a law to prevent the operation of virtual gambling games, such as the so-called "tiger game," during a national radio and television address alluding to International Women's Day, celebrated tomorrow. In addressing the issue, the Workers' Party leader argued that it makes no sense to allow this type of platform in the country while casinos remain prohibited by Brazilian law. However, the regulation of this type of activity was carried out by Lula's government.
"Casinos are prohibited in the country. It makes no sense that the 'tiger' game is allowed. We will work in the National Congress to put an end to virtual casinos," he stated.
Online betting platforms have been subject to specific rules in the country following the approval of a law by the National Congress at the end of 2023, sanctioned by Lula. The bill was sent by the Ministry of Finance with the initial objective of regulating sports betting, the so-called "bets," which were already operating in Brazil without regulation.
During its passage through the Chamber of Deputies, however, the rapporteur for the proposal, Deputy Adolfo Viana (PSDB-BA), included in the text the authorization for so-called "online games," a category that encompasses virtual casinos such as the popularly known "Tigrinho." This provision was initially restricted by the Senate, which attempted to limit the regulation only to sports betting, but the provision was reinstated in the Chamber before the final approval of the law, which was signed into law by the president in December 2023.
In his statement, the president cited the popularization of digital gaming and betting platforms as a phenomenon that has been worrying the government and stated that the issue should be addressed by Congress.
Political strategy
Behind the scenes at the Palácio do Planalto (Presidential Palace), aides to the president believe the statement is part of a strategy to strengthen the government's communication with female voters, considered one of the most relevant segments for the 2026 presidential race.
https://oglobo.globo.com/politica/noticia/2026/03/07/lula-pronunciamento.ghtml?utm_source=aplicativoOGlobo&utm_medium=aplicativo&utm_campaign=compartilhar
VALUE: Lula defends ending the 6x1 work schedule in a speech on Women's Day.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended this Saturday (7), in a national address in honor of International Women's Day, the end of the 6x1 work schedule. According to him, this is a relevant issue for Brazilian women.
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The president also expressed support for the approval of a law to prohibit virtual gambling, such as the so-called "tiger game." According to him, this is a problem that, although it mainly affects men addicted to gambling, ends up impacting women as well. "It's the money for food, rent, and children's school that disappears on the cell phone screen. Casinos are prohibited in Brazil. It makes no sense to allow tiger games to enter homes, indebting families through cell phones. We will work together, uniting the government, Congress, and the Judiciary so that these digital casinos do not continue to indebt families and destroy homes," he argued. The regulation of sports betting came into effect in Brazil in January of last year. The betting law was sanctioned by Lula at the end of 2023.
https://valor.globo.com/politica/noticia/2026/03/07/lula-defende-fim-da-escala-6×1-e-proibio-de-jogos-de-azar-virtuais-em-pronunciamento-do-dia-da-mulher.ghtml?utm_source=aplicativoValor&utm_medium=aplicativo&utm_campaign=compartilhar
Folha de S.Paulo: Lula defends ending the 6x1 pay scale and the "little tiger game" in a speech to female voters on TV.
The government showed on Saturday night (7) a statement by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) on International Women's Day, celebrated on March 8. In his speech, the PT member highlighted actions to combat femicide and linked the end of the 6x1 schedule and gambling addiction to the agenda of improving women's quality of life.
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Lula also said that gambling addiction is another problem affecting Brazilian households. "Although most addicts are men, the burden falls on women. It's money meant for food, rent, and children's school that disappears on the cell phone screen," he stated.
The president stated that the government will work together with Congress and the Judiciary. "It makes no sense to allow illegal gambling games to enter homes, indebting families through their cell phones," said Lula, adding that digital casinos cannot continue "indebting families and destroying homes."
https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/mercado/2026/03/lula-defende-fim-da-escala-6×1-e-do-jogo-do-tigrinho-em-discurso-para-eleitorado-feminino-na-tv.shtml?utm_source=sharenativo&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharenativo
CNN Brazil: Lula defends the fight against femicide, calls for an end to the 6x1 system, and criticizes bets.
“Violence against women is not a private matter where nobody interferes,” the president said in a statement broadcast on Saturday night (7).
On Saturday night (7), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) made a statement on national radio and television in reference to International Women's Day, celebrated this Sunday, March 8.
In the nearly six-minute message, recorded at the Palácio da Alvorada last Thursday (5), Lula defended the fight against femicide, exposing recent actions by the federal government on the subject. The president also called for the end of the 6×1 schedule, criticized the bets and informed that, next week, the Digital ECA will come into force.
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Lula also criticized online gambling, the so-called "bets": "Another tragedy affecting Brazilian homes is gambling addiction. Although most addicts are men, the burden falls on women. It's money meant for food, rent, and children's school that disappears on the cell phone screen. Casinos are prohibited in Brazil. It makes no sense to allow gambling games to enter homes, indebting families through 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."
https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/politica/lula-defende-combate-ao-feminicidio-pede-fim-da-6×1-e-critica-bets/
Terra News Portal: Lula says he intends to end the "Little Tiger Game" in Brazil; regulation was a project of his government.
Fernando Haddad, the Minister of Finance, was one of those responsible for advancing the regulation of betting.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) defended a law that would prohibit online casinos in the country. According to the politician, it makes no sense to legalize the "Tiger Game" here.
"Casinos are prohibited in Brazil, it makes no sense to allow the 'Little Tiger Game' to enter homes, indebting families through their cell phones. We will work together, uniting the Government, Congress and Judiciary, so that these digital casinos do not continue to indebt families and destroy homes," Lula said in a national radio and television address.
Lula highlighted that the digital casino causes many families to lose money meant for food through gambling.
Despite the rhetoric, the regulation of betting in Brazil only came into effect during Lula's government. The initial bill, submitted by Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, aimed to regulate only sports betting.
However, during the legislative process, which was overseen by Representative Adolfo Viana (PSDB-BA), online casinos were included in the regulations. The Senate initially tried to block the inclusion, but the Chamber of Deputies later upheld it. Subsequently, Lula signed the law approving the regulation of gambling.
AMIG questions president over criticism of the betting sector at Women's Day event.
