Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is facing industry criticism after he urged the government to unite to ban online betting, in an address to the nation on Sunday for International Women’s Day.
During the speech he describing gambling addiction as a “tragedy” for the nation. “Although most addicts are men, the burden falls on women,” Lula said. “It’s the money for food, rent and children’s school that disappears on the cell phone screen.
“Gambling dens are prohibited in Brazil. It makes no sense to allow gambling to enter homes, indebting families through cell phones.
“Let’s work together, uniting the government, Congress and the judiciary, so that these digital casinos don’t continue to indebt families and destroy homes.”
