Gambling operators in Brazil have officially turned off their platforms as President Lula‘s provisional measures came into effect.
Players attempting to access gambling platforms are now redirected to a federal website informing them that the operator has been blocked due to Provisional Measure No. 1,394/26.
Gambling legislation has been at the heart of campaigning for President Lula and his primary opponent, Flavio Bolsonaro, both of whom have linked the opening of the market to rising debt in Brazil.
Operators hoping for clarity on the political direction of the country were left disappointed, however, as neither man achieved the 50% vote share required for victory.
Instead, there will now be a runoff vote on 25 October.
Lula even referenced gambling as a reason for his election performance, as he trailed Bolsonaro by 2% in the initial votes.
The current President said that the decision to ban fixed-odds betting had a negative impact on his performance.
According to O Globo, Lula’s campaign team said there was a wave of influencers encouraging citizens to strategically vote in favour of Bolsonaro in reaction to the ban.
The ANJL has criticised Lula’s reasoning for implementing a ban, stating that claims of gambling being linked to debt levels have not been backed by clear data, and has launched legal action against the prohibition.
However, earlier today, Brazil’s Attorney General’s Office urged the Supreme Court to reject the ANJL’s requests and consult with the office before making a decision.