Lula Bans Online Betting in Brazil as Election Race Tightens

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced a ban on online betting operations on Friday, introducing the measure just weeks before the country's October 4 first-round presidential vote.

The executive order takes immediate effect, but under Brazilian rules it must be approved by Congress within 120 days to remain in force. The ban arrives less than two years after the government established a legal framework that allowed the online betting industry to operate in Latin America's largest economy.

According to the government, the crackdown responds to mounting concern that gambling expenditure has been draining household budgets and driving indebtedness to record levels. Recent surveys cited in the announcement indicated that roughly three-quarters of Brazilians back a complete prohibition on online betting.

"We are facing a public health issue involving online betting. It is a serious problem," Finance Minister Dario Durigan said while presenting the measure.

The timing has drawn political reaction. Opinion polls show Lula in a close contest with right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Speaking at a campaign rally in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, the senator described the ban as "populist, hypocritical and politically motivated."

The order is the latest in a series of measures the president has unveiled in the run-up to the election.