Lula again criticizes online gambling and promises government action on betting.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) once again compared online gambling to an illness this Monday (September 14th) and reaffirmed that the government will soon announce a measure regarding the operation of betting sites. The statements were made in Brasília, during the signing of the Move Brasil law.

The online betting sector has become an increasing target of criticism within the government, which plans to tighten oversight of the platforms. Beyond the economic and social impacts, the issue has become an electoral matter, with Lula among the presidential candidates most critical of betting.

Meeting with victims

Lula reported having participated, outside of his official schedule, in a meeting with people affected by gambling addiction. The president stated that the scale of the problem goes beyond the reach of the State.

“Yesterday, I had a very painful meeting with people who are victims of gambling on betting sites. Possibly, almost no Brazilian authority knows firsthand what is happening in our country. There is a lot of suffering and a lot of addiction,” he said.

The president also highlighted the persuasive nature of the platforms. "We are making decisions and soon we will announce the decision we will make regarding this, because it's an illness, not a game. It's the manipulation of innocent people into an addiction," he stated.

Political and electoral context

The remarks were made during the signing of the Move Brasil law, which expands access to credit for app drivers, taxi drivers, and other transportation workers. The choice of event did not prevent the topic of bets from dominating part of the presidential speech.

Online betting was regulated during Lula's administration. Even so, the president has progressively hardened his stance against the sector. The Ministry of Finance plans to expand oversight of betting sites, and Lula has publicly stated that they need to be shut down.