On October 18, the first debate between Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his runoff challenger, Flávio Bolsonaro, unfolded without any mention of the controversial betting ban. This face-off occurred shortly after the police sought the Supreme Court's approval to probe Flávio regarding alleged connections to an attorney suspected of controlling Rede Loto—a company that signed an agreement with the Rio de Janeiro state lottery, Loterj, on May 25, 2023. Their contract marked Rede Loto as the first entity approved by a state lottery to provide sports betting services ahead of a nationwide licensing system set to be implemented.
The debate primarily revolved around corruption, public security, and healthcare issues. Lula pressed Bolsonaro for details surrounding the R$134 million he allegedly solicited from banker Daniel Vorcaro to fund a biopic titled "Dark Horse," centered on Jair Bolsonaro, Flávio's father. In response, Flávio questioned Lula’s ties with lobbyist Roberta Luchsinger. Lula also demanded that both candidates disclose their financial statements and phone records before the election.
According to Folha de S.Paulo, Lula's team was prepared to interrogate Flávio about the gaming ban and his associations with attorney Willer Tomaz. However, neither candidate addressed the potential progression of the proposal in Congress or the Supreme Court. Lula also refrained from mentioning this topic during an interview with TV Globo, despite discussing family debts.
The Federal Police recently approached the Supreme Court regarding Flávio's alleged involvement in money laundering tied to Tomaz. The Attorney General's office disclosed this request, with Justice Alexandre de Moraes designated as the rapporteur for the case. The investigation reportedly unearthed substantial evidence connecting Flávio to Tomaz, including flight payments and a bank account belonging to Tomaz that recorded transactions totaling R$130 million from March to May 2025.
Final debates are scheduled for October 23, with Flávio required to confirm his participation by October 19. The runoff election is set to take place on October 25, coinciding with the expiration of federal betting licenses. According to a Datafolha poll conducted on October 15, Flávio currently leads with 51% of valid votes, compared to Lula's 49%.
