Brazil Betting Ban Branded Populist by Presidential Candidate Flávio Bolsonaro

^{Flávio Bolsonaro, senator for the state of Rio de Janeiro}

Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro has criticised President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s decision to ban sports betting and online casinos in the country, UOL reports.

After the ban was introduced, Bolsonaro said Lula was acting out of “desperation” ahead of the election.

Even before the measure was signed, Bolsonaro had described the government’s decision as “populist, hypocritical and election-driven”. He said there was no guarantee that Lula would not allow betting to return after the election.

Bolsonaro himself has previously backed a ban on online casinos but has not called for sports betting to be prohibited. He has argued that betting could remain legal under stricter regulation.

Lula signed the provisional measure on 25 September. It bans sports betting operators and online casinos from operating in Brazil. Gambling advertising and sponsorships are also prohibited, including betting brands appearing on sports team kits.

Betting operators were barred from accepting player deposits immediately after the measure was published. They must shut down their websites and apps within 10 days, while their licences will cease to be valid after 30 days. Operators will not be reimbursed for the fees they paid the government for those licences.

Players must be refunded any money remaining in their accounts. Bets that cannot be settled before the platforms shut down will be voided, with the full stakes returned to players.