Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is considering imposing a ban on online gambling while also enhancing regulations on sports betting. This potential overhaul of Brazil's legal betting landscape might result in a total prohibition on online casinos.
Although there was discussion about banning sports betting, this measure is not currently part of the proposals, ensuring that the regulated market will not experience a decline in revenue. In preparation for the upcoming elections in October, President Lula is expected to engage with citizens affected by gambling issues, reflecting the government’s focus on online gambling matters.
In recent developments, the Brazilian government has proposed increasing taxes on gambling operators, raising the gross gaming revenue tax from 12% to 18% by 2028. The Brazilian association ABC-BET has urged the government to maintain its regulatory principles, stating, "do not weaken regulation. Make it stronger."
ABC-BET argued that instead of mitigating gambling-related issues, a ban could push these problems into environments where the state has limited capacity to monitor, prevent indebtedness, and protect citizens. Concurrently, Brazil's gaming regulation agency has ramped up efforts to crack down on illegal operators in the market.
