Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has banned online gambling ahead of a closely fought presidential election, saying the industry was a “cancer” that he needed to remove.
Lula is currently in a tight race against Flávio Bolsonaro. The online gambling ban comes as the election campaign takes shape, placing the issue among the political concerns being addressed by the president.
In describing the industry as a cancer, Lula made clear his opposition to online gambling and said it had to be eliminated. The supplied information does not specify the precise scope of the ban, how it will be enforced or when it will take effect.
The measure is being announced against the backdrop of the contest between Lula and Bolsonaro. No further response from Flávio Bolsonaro or details of the election campaign were provided.
The latest known position is that Lula has moved to prohibit online gambling, with further details on implementation and the political reaction yet to be established.
