LATAM

The rise of illegal online gambling platforms in Brazil post-outright online betting ban has now ensued, with an eye-watering amount of unlicensed operators beginning to infiltrate the South American country.

President Lula’s decision to prohibit regulated online gaming and betting operators came as a shock to the industry, putting it mildly.

Just under two years, Brazil’s online licensed market went from non-existence to becoming the sixth-largest in global value, as per Blask data, with potential to top the ranks by the end of the decade.

However, Lula’s drastic measure, introduced a week before the Presidential election, now seems to have reversed years of efforts to establish a safe environment for players.

SBC Noticias Brasil reported that illegal iGaming operators had climbed to 575 on 26 September, as opposed to the 331 recorded the day prior before Lula’s announcement – representing an increase of 244, or 74% in 24 hours.

The stats were shared by Amilton Noble, Executive ..

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will declare an outright ban on Brazil’s Bets Law, today Friday, 25 September, as an election pledge kept by the Workers Party (PT) government.  Yesterday, the news sources of O Globo and Folha de S.Paulo, reported that Lula had confirmed his decision in a meeting of economic ministers in São Paulo.  The decision comes just nine days…

The appearance of Brazil’s Finance Minister Dario Durigan on CNN Brazil will have only served to elevate the trepidation of the country’s gambling industry.

He revealed that the economic team in the country has not completely taken the possibility of banning the regulated market off the table.

There was a warning from Durigan that the tax revenue from the sector wouldn’t be enough to make it immune from being prohibited, with Durigan stating that “If it harms people, the revenue is not justified.”

Furthermore, an announcement from Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is scheduled to announce his proposal to restrict gambling before Thursday the 24th.

The minister clarified that the fact that betting houses increase public revenue does not justify the increase in debt for Brazilian families.

Measures previously undertaken to ensure the banning of online casinos are expanded to become a more encompassing ban and include more verticals within the gambling sector.

Durigan added that if the go..

Diego Garciarena , a deputy from the province of Buenos Aires, questioned the government of Axel Kicillof for the lack of implementation of the announced biometric controls for online gambling platforms, and demanded urgent measures to prevent children and adolescents from accessing betting sites, nine months after the province made these systems mandatory. “In December 2025, the Provincial Institute of Lotteries…

Brazil’s iGaming market appears to be on life support as President Lula has vowed to take ‘drastic measures’ following a meeting of representatives.

The President linked online gambling to the issue of rising debts as he consulted with business, religious, health and consumer protection groups. However, gambling industry organisations, including the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), were not invited.

Doubling down on his disdain for the sector, Lula described it as a ‘societal ill’ and reiterated his preference to ‘put an end to gambling’.

Although he said that ‘two-thirds’ of the decision had already been made, Lula told attendees that he would listen to Brazilian society before determining the fate of the market – which only opened at the beginning of 2025.

He added: “As President of the Republic, I have to understand that there are other things I have to share, decisions so that we can do things in the mo..