Table of Contents
(AsiaGameHub) – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the online gambling sector again during an interview on TV Brasil’s Sem Censura (Uncensored) program.
Appearing on the government’s state-owned network, the Workers’ Party leader noted that the decision is not his alone. “If it were up to the president, I would have said this during the campaign. I support closing all those betting sites that provide no useful service to this country.”
On signing the law that regulates sports betting and includes online gambling, Lula said that if he had vetoed any part of the bill approved by Congress, the veto would likely have been overturned.
‘I don’t own Brazil‘
“It is not up to me; I don’t own Brazil. Just as I say that [Donald] Trump doesn’t own the world, I don’t own Brazil. I am the President of the Republic. I am part of a tripartite system of institutions that governs the country. There is the National Congress and there is the judiciary,” he said.
President Lula adopted the campaign pledge to end online betting in Brazil to appeal to more conservative voters, including evangelicals. In his speeches on household debt, he consistently attributes the problem to online betting. He has not acknowledged that high interest rates contribute to rising debt.
Advertising restrictions
The president stated on the program that the government had succeeded in shutting down more than 90% of illegal betting operations. However, he did not explain why half of the market remains underground.
On regulating betting advertising, Lula said that betting platforms should be treated the same as other sectors. “Everyone must be treated equally,” Lula said. “What is illegal in daily life must also be illegal in any other setting.”
Facing challenges in closing the industry, President Lula criticized online gambling and said illegal operators must be stopped. “You must know which betting sites are legitimate and which aren’t,” he explained. “You may allow one or two to operate, but you cannot let small-time operators go unchecked.”
In his view, society needs financial education. He also believes stricter rules are required for the online betting sector. “Gambling is a disease, an addiction,” he concluded.
This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content.
AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
