Lula promises to protect evangelical families, but the betting law left gamblers unprotected.
President Lula chose a biblical verse to open the letter he addresses to Brazilian evangelical families, to be released this Wednesday (14) by the Evangelical Front for the Rule of Law, a movement that supports his re-election. He says that the Christians with whom he has been dialoguing have taught him to “follow the truth in love”. The text, revealed by Bela Megale’s column in O Globo , lists among the government’s actions that “bless” families the fight against online gambling, which, according to the president, is destroying so many homes.
If the commitment is to the truth, it's best to start with the chosen word. What the government did was not "combat" betting. It prohibited it, through Provisional Measure No. 1.394, published on September 25th, less than two weeks before the first round of voting. And it's no coincidence that the topic reappears now in a letter to evangelicals: internal PT (Workers' Party) surveys on the eve of the MP's publication indicated that the prohibition was well received precisely by this electorate, which is largely favorable to the opponent. The letter is not about family politics. It's the next chapter in an electoral strategy.
What the regulation guaranteed — and the provisional measure removed
Law No. 14.790/2023, sanctioned by Lula himself in December 2023, and the ordinances of the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA/MF) built, throughout 2024, a set of protections for bettors that came into effect with the regulated market in January 2025. Among them:
⇒ Identity verification via CPF (Brazilian taxpayer ID) and facial recognition, with effective blocking of minors under 18 years of age;
⇒ Prohibition of betting with credit cards, cryptocurrencies, and third-party money; payments are only accepted from bank accounts in the bettor's own name.
⇒ Prohibition on granting credit, advances or loans for gambling;
⇒ responsible gaming tools, such as deposit, loss and time limits, pauses and self-exclusion;
⇒ Blocking of bets by beneficiaries of social programs, such as Bolsa Família and BPC;
⇒ advertising rules, with mandatory warnings and a ban on messages directed at children and adolescents;
⇒ Customer service, ombudsman services, and legal responsibility of companies based in Brazil, subject to inspection and sanctions.
None of these safeguards exist in the illegal market. And that's where the ban has pushed gamblers. Even after 22 months of regulation, clandestine betting houses still held more than 40% of the market. With the closure of authorized operators, those who continue to gamble—and there are millions of Brazilians—have started doing so on websites without age verification, that accept credit cards, don't offer self-exclusion, don't collect taxes, and don't answer to any Brazilian authority.
The contradictions within the letter itself
The text promises to protect children and adolescents. But regulation was the only instrument that imposed on companies the obligation to prevent access by minors, and the illegal market has no such barriers. The letter promises to combat organized crime "intelligently." But it was precisely the revenue from the regulated sector that began to finance legal beneficiaries such as the National Public Security Fund and the Federal Police fund, resources that the Provisional Measure cut. And the clandestine brothels, which now absorb the demand, are known to be a money laundering channel for criminal factions.
The letter also mentions public health. The law allocated part of the revenue from betting to the Ministry of Health for actions to prevent and treat problem gambling. With the prohibition, this source also disappears, precisely when those who gambled are left at the mercy of operators who have no interest in identifying or limiting compulsive behavior.
There are also the families that the letter doesn't mention: those of thousands of workers in the sector, in the areas of technology, customer service, marketing, and compliance, who have lost or are losing their jobs. Many of them are certainly evangelical Christians.
The missing truth
Concern about debt and addiction is legitimate and has never been denied by the regulated sector. But those who are truly concerned about families strengthen oversight, tighten advertising rules, expand self-exclusion measures, and stifle the illegal market. They don't destroy, by decree and in the midst of a campaign, the only environment in which the State could see and protect the gambler.
The letter asks evangelical families to decide their vote prayerfully and with discernment. This is good advice. Discernment, in this case, means realizing that the prohibition did not end gambling. It only ended the protections. Following the truth in love would require recognizing this.
Read the full letter:
Letter from Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to Brazilian Evangelical Families
Dear evangelical families of Brazil,
I decided to write to you with an open heart, full of truth, because the Christians with whom I have been talking are teaching me that the Bible guides us to "follow the truth in love." I am not evangelical, but I have total respect for those who are, just as I have for all religions and professions of faith. We have one thing in common: the commitment to caring for Brazilian families, because only strong homes can produce a strong nation!
I learned the value of work at home, bravely persevering alongside my mother, Dona Lindu, to raise a family with seven siblings. With this solid family foundation, I learned to love and to fight to transform reality. It is on this ground that my story intersects with the life story and faith of your family. I entered politics with this commitment in my heart: to help change the living conditions of poor and hardworking families.
In a long and difficult journey, I became President of Brazil three times. Now, I am running for a fourth term. I arrived here with divine protection, guided by a purpose and a mission. I am absolutely certain that, if it weren't for God's good hand, I wouldn't have survived the various battles I faced. Guided by Him, I am here once again, defending Brazilian families with concrete actions, as I have done throughout my political career, and not with empty speeches, as many others do. Families are the foundation of the Brazil we want.
Among the various actions of my government that bless your families, I remind you, for example, of the fight against online gambling, the "Bets," which are destroying so many homes, and my commitment to ensuring that everyone has two days of rest per week, because life is not just about work.
People need more time to rest, have leisure time, and be at home with their loved ones, strengthening family bonds. For evangelical Christians, this also guarantees more time to be in church in fellowship with their brothers and sisters and in worship. I also remain committed to protecting women, combating all types of violence and organized crime with intelligence: arresting criminals, protecting our children and adolescents, and sparing innocent lives.
They will never be able to accuse us of being committed to policies that destroy lives, that close temples, or that fail to show respect, as Jesus taught us, that we should love all people. We need to move forward, we need to love more! Up to this point, I have helped to fix our house, Brazil. But I know there is still much to be done. I am listening to your legitimate and urgent cry for change, for security, for a future and prosperity. I am committed to improving public health so that your family is well cared for; to a real increase in income, with purchasing power; and to the preservation of nature created by God. Brazil is ours! I will listen to and address your desires.
I know that in evangelical families, everything is decided through prayer. Therefore, I urge you to ask God for discernment in making your choice in this election. Go to the polls with a clear conscience and a renewed commitment to our beloved Brazil.
With gratitude for your attention and generous reading, I count on your prayers and continue to look firmly towards the hope of victory and a more just and respectful Brazil with opportunities for all.
TO BRAZILIAN EVANGELICAL FAMILIES
We need to move forward more!
