Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced a nationwide ban on online betting on Friday and unveiled a separate programme to restructure heavily delinquent household debt, adding two major economic measures to his agenda ahead of the October 4 presidential election.
Opinion polling has shown Lula in a closely contested race with right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Lula’s executive order immediately prohibits online betting operations, less than two years after his government established a legal framework for the industry. The measure must be approved by Congress within 120 days to remain in force.
The government has increasingly voiced concern that gambling is placing…