In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced that his government will take measures against online betting sites. The statement was made during an event in Mauá, a municipality in Greater São Paulo, where federal investments in health and education were announced.
Read also: Super Bowl betting falls in Nevada despite positive margin for casinos
“We are going to take a very serious stance against gambling. They are stealing money from the poor in this country,” stated the president during the ceremony on February 9. His words reflect a growing governmental concern about the impact of betting platforms on the lower-income population.
Religious Arguments Behind Lula da Silva’s Stance
Lula da Silva explained that his opposition to gambling is rooted in his religious values. The president recalled that the church taught him to reject such practices, specifically mentioning his historical opposition to casinos and illegal lotteries.
“What is happening today is that the casino has moved into homes. It’s in the living room, in the hands of the children,” the president pointed out, referring to how mobile technology has facilitated access to these platforms.
New Restrictions Being Prepared in Brazil
The Brazilian government is working on implementing rules that will prohibit young people from accessing gambling, pornography, and similar online content. These restrictions, approved in 2025, align with global trends seeking to establish stricter limits on the use of social media and digital platforms by children and adolescents.
However, during the event in Mauá, the president did not specify the concrete actions the government plans to implement against betting platforms.
Read also: Sportradar: Sports integrity strengthens as match-fixing declines globally in 2025
Draft Regulation with Age Verification
According to a draft decree reviewed by Bloomberg News, the new regulations will require app stores and platforms to implement age verification measures. These verifications aim to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate online content.
The draft contemplates restrictions for various types of content, including sites displaying gambling ads, pornography, escort services, alcoholic beverages, dating apps, and weapons. The measure would represent one of the broadest controls implemented in Brazil on minors’ access to digital content.
Context of Digital Regulation in Brazil
The president’s statements come at a time of intense global debate on the regulation of digital platforms and the protection of minors online. Several countries have advanced similar legislation in recent years, seeking a balance between access to technology and the protection of vulnerable populations.
The effective implementation of these measures will depend on the platforms’ technical capacity to verify users’ ages and on the oversight mechanisms established by the Brazilian government. The announcement raises expectations about how these promises will materialize into concrete public policies.
Read also: R. Franco Digital celebrates the season of love with Valentine’s Dates
