Former Brazilian President Michel Temer emphasised his disapproval of the impact of the decision made during his administration that paved the way for the legalization of fixed-odds betting in the country.
Speaking in an interview on the Brazilian program Frente a Frente, Temer underscored that subsequent measures have fallen short of erasing the problems caused by the expansion of betting in the country.
He stated: “I won’t say I regret it, because I knew the regulation would come later, but I can’t applaud that measure.”
Temer signed the gambling regulation into law in December 2018. However, the sector’s regulatory framework was completed in the following years under the administration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with the introduction of rules governing operations, advertising, oversight, anti-money laundering measures, and responsible gambling.
When asked during the interview whether he regretted the decision, Temer avoided using that term but acknowledged that the measure had negative consequences.
The interview aired at a time when online betting is under intense public scrutiny in Brazil due to the upcoming end-of-year elections, concerns about its connection to rising household debt, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup—the first World Cup since the sector was regulated and one accompanied by such extensive betting advertising.
Temer cites pressure to legalize casinos and calls for strict oversight
Explaining the context behind the decision, the former president said that toward the end of his term there was significant pressure to legalize casinos in Brazil. According to Temer, authorising sports betting was viewed at the time as a compromise in light of resistance to opening casinos.
“A lesser evil. That’s what led me to sign it at the time,” Temer said.
The former president said he finds the rapid growth of betting concerning. He acknowledged that illegal gambling had existed before legalization, including roulette, bingo, and other underground gambling operations across the country, but argued that digital access has dramatically expanded the activity.
“It is not beneficial for the country,” he stated unequivocally.
Asked what he would do in the current landscape, Temer called for “strict regulation” and “very close supervision.” While Brazil’s online betting regulations have been criticised by politicians and sections of the public, they are regarded by some other countries as a model regulatory framework.
The former president also raised the possibility of restricting access to betting for certain groups, citing recipients of the Bolsa Família social welfare program as an example. In his view, the government has the legitimate authority to guide how funds distributed through social assistance programs are used.
