Although he signed the Bets Law back in late 2024, creating the legal market as of 1 January 2025, historically left-leaning President Lula da Silva and his Workers Party (PT) are self-described “no friends” of the industry.
Criticism is now coming from the right-wing. Federal Deputy Caroline de Toni of the Liberal Party (PL) – a right-wing populist party led by the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Flávio Bolsonaro – has proposed Bill No. 5,153/2026.
If approved, the bill seeks to bring an end to online betting in Brazil. Federal licenses, issued by the Ministry of Finance’s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), would be terminated within 180 days under de Toni’s proposal.
