Reports coming out of Brazil suggest that President Lula da Silva is on the verge of introducing a provisional measure to restrict the Bets regime in the coming days, with full gambling bans not yet ruled out.

SBC Noticias Brasil noted that the information comes from sources close to the President’s Planalto Palace, and that if adopted, Lula’s provision will be enforced with immediate effect – with sources not ruling out a  ban on entire gambling verticals, such as online gambling or sports betting.

Just last week, President Lula hosted a meeting at his residence, inviting representatives from various public health and consumer protection groups to discuss the financial impact of the Bets regime on Brazilian families. 

Bets – comprising both online betting and casino – is the legislative framework that Brazil adopted at the start of 2025 to legalise and regulate online gambling.

More pressure on Brazil’s gambling sector

Noteworthy of the Planalto Palace meeting from last week was that no organisations from the gambling sector were invited to attend. 

Coupled with Lula reportedly telling attendees that a “drastic decision” needs to be made, the Bets regime could be put on the chopping board not even two years after it was enforced, with the Presidential signature no less.

CNN Brazil has now noted that the timing of Lula’s cabinet attempts to fast-track more gambling restrictions coincides with the upcoming Presidential elections penciled in for October. 

The media outlet added that surveys by Lula’s Workers Party examining its own electorate have shown that “three out of four” are against the Bets regime. 

Negative sentiments have been partially fueled by recent comments that since being regulated, gambling has led to a stark rise in debt among the population. However, Brazil’s Central Bank has refuted these statements, saying that the debt is tied to credit card usage instead.

In the final vote for the Presidential seat, Lula will most likely face Flávio Bolsonaro – a candidate with significant conservative Christian support – with SBC Noticias placing both at around 36% and 29% respectively in the pre-election, head-to-head polling data.