Brasilia, Mar 10: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has proposed banning digital casinos in Brazil, citing concerns over rising online gambling addiction and its financial impact on families.
In a video message released on YouTube to mark International Women’s Day, Lula said the rapid spread of online betting platforms through mobile phones and apps has created social and economic problems, particularly affecting households.
The Brazilian president said that although many gambling addicts are men, the financial consequences often fall on women who manage family expenses.
“Money meant for food, rent, school and children is disappearing on a cellphone screen,” he said, warning that online betting is pushing families into debt.
Lula also questioned how digital betting platforms have expanded widely despite the fact that physical casinos have been banned in Brazil for decades.
“It makes no sense to allow gambling to enter people’s homes through a cellphone,” he said, calling for coordinated action by the government, Congress and the judiciary to restrict digital gambling platforms.
Alongside concerns about online betting, Lula highlighted issues of gender violence and inequality in the country.He said that a woman is killed roughly every six hours in Brazil and announced new measures under the National Pact Brazil Against Femicide to combat violence against women.
The steps include operations to arrest more than 2,000 suspected aggressors, electronic monitoring of offenders under restraining orders and strengthening police stations dedicated to handling crimes against women.
Lula also referred to recent legislative progress aimed at promoting gender equality, including a law ensuring equal pay for men and women performing the same work, while acknowledging that significant social and labour gaps remain.
