Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva again criticized online gambling on Monday, Sept. 14, describing betting as an illness and saying his government will soon announce a decision on the operation of betting sites.
Speaking in Brasília during the signing of the Move Brasil law, Lula said he had recently met with people affected by gambling addiction and described the meeting as painful.
“Yesterday, I had a very painful meeting with people who are victims of gambling on betting sites. Possibly, almost no Brazilian authority knows firsthand what is happening in our country. There is a lot of suffering and a lot of addiction,” Lula said.
The president also criticized betting platforms for what he described as their ability to manipulate people into addiction.
“We are making decisions and soon we will announce the decision we will make regarding this, because it’s an illness, not a game. It’s the manipulation of innocent people into an addiction,” he said.
The comments come as Lula’s government plans to tighten oversight of betting platforms. Online betting was regulated during his administration, but the president has since hardened his position against the sector.
The Ministry of Finance plans to expand oversight of betting sites, while Lula has publicly said they need to be shut down. The issue has also become a political and electoral matter, with Lula among the presidential candidates most critical of betting.
