Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on 7 March that his government would work with Congress and the judiciary to prevent online “tiger games” from causing addiction and household debt. He described betting addiction as a social problem affecting families, with women often bearing its consequences.
Any resulting government action could affect online casino-style games and the wider Brazilian betting market.
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Brazil's Ministry of Sport told the Supreme Court that Provisional Measure 1.394/2026, which banned fixed-odds betting nationwide, has removed the grounds for the ANJL's challenge to Minas Gerais decree 49.279/2026. The document, signed on 13 October and approved the following day, argues that the alleged discrimination between federal and state operators no longer exists because both are barred from advertising. The ministry acknowledged that the provisional measure still depends on Congress.
Brazil's Ministry of Sport has told the Supreme Court that Provisional Measure 1.394/2026, which banned fixed-odds betting nationwide, has removed the grounds for the ANJL's challenge to Minas Gerais decree 49.279/2026, according to a legal opinion. The opinion, Informações nº 00141/2026 from the ministry's legal consultancy (CONJUR/MESP), was signed on 13 October and approved the following day by the ministry's legal consultant, Guilherme Assunção Fagundes. The case, ADI 8.014, is reported by minister Flávio Dino. The ANJL is represented by lawyers Pietro Cardia Lorenzoni and Bernardo Cavalcanti Freire.
Brazil’s Attorney General’s Office (AGU) is reviewing Polymarket’s election-related betting and has requested factual and legal information from the Ministry of Finance before considering possible action, according to the report. The ministry said Polymarket and associated social media accounts are blocked in Brazil and that access by some users does not authorise the platform to operate; the report says the SPA-MF had prohibited prediction-market operations and ordered blocking measures.
The head of SECOM in Lula’s administration suggested action against betting companies to improve the government’s popularity. The report described political discussions within the Planalto Palace concerning online betting businesses.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met civil society, business, religious, health and consumer representatives to discuss online betting’s effects on families, and said he wanted a more drastic decision against the sector. Lula linked gambling losses to household debt and said the government would consider further measures; regulated betting associations and the SPA were not represented at the meeting.
It was reported that ANJL called for stronger measures against unlicensed betting platforms in Brazil. Its appeal followed publication of research by Instituto Locomotiva.