Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has ordered a ban on sports betting and online casinos shortly before the country’s presidential election, in which he is seeking a fourth term. Lula says unregulated gambling has fuelled addiction and caused serious financial harm to families, while opponents accuse him of making a politically motivated move.

Existing users must withdraw their funds by 5 October, and new deposits are already prohibited. The order needs congressional approval within 120 days, while football clubs warn that losing betting sponsorships could damage their finances; the industry generated 62.5bn reais in 2025, and clubs received 1.1bn reais.