Brazilian presidential candidates vow to ban online betting

Presidential hopefuls Renan Santos and Romeu Zema have both declared their intention to eliminate online betting platforms in Brazil should they win the upcoming election. The candidates voiced their strong opposition to the burgeoning sector during separate campaign appearances on Monday.

Renan Santos, representing the Missão party, promised to "destroy" the betting industry during his potential administration. Speaking at a press conference in São Paulo after a lunch with business leaders, Santos framed this stance as part of a broader economic reform agenda. He also linked economic growth to removing the current president, Lula, from power, and outlined plans for public spending cuts, tax reductions, and lower interest rates.

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The bets will be destroyed in my government, there will be no betting, there will be no easy payroll loans eating people's salaries.

Romeu Zema of the Novo party drew a stark parallel between the addiction fostered by online betting and the use of cocaine. Zema made his remarks during a meeting with community leaders and congregants at a church in Belford Roxo, Rio de Janeiro. He argued that betting apps are designed to encourage user addiction, likening the situation to drug trafficking where new dealers emerge if one is caught.

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It's what happens with cocaine: you arrest one dealer and another appears in place. But it is the duty and obligation of the State.

Zema, the former governor of Minas Gerais, advocated for a complete prohibition of online betting or, at minimum, a 50% reduction in its availability. He described the market as a "plague and a disgrace" and suggested leveraging technological resources to combat clandestine platforms that might arise after a ban. He pointed out that even with cocaine being illegal for decades, addiction persists, implying a similar challenge for betting.

Both candidates' strong stances against online betting highlight a potential shift in policy regarding the industry, which has seen significant growth in Brazil. Their proposals suggest a move towards stricter regulation or outright prohibition, reflecting concerns about addiction and its societal impact.

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The clandestine market will always exist. Don't we have people addicted to cocaine, which has been legally prohibited for decades?