Lula weighs tigrinho ban before Brazil's 2027 election

Brazil's government is considering a ban on tigrinho — online casino games not tied to real-world sporting results — following President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's return from the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. Senior aides expect action. Lula's allies say he favors severe restrictions, with tigrinho as the minimum target regardless of how far the final measure goes.

The commercial stakes are substantial. Government sources told Folha de S.Paulo that casino games generate the majority of betting companies' revenue in Brazil. Operators paid R$30 million each for five-year licenses under the regulatory framework finalized in late 2023. An early termination would expose the federal government to compensation litigation for the remaining license period — a legal complication officials have acknowledged without resolving.

Enforcement presents a second problem. Officials have warned that banned platforms may remain accessible, hollowing out any formal restriction. The sector also holds influence in the National Congress, where any provisional measure would require consideration, and betting companies sponsor digital influencers whose cooperation Lula's campaign cannot assume.