Lula’s Re-Election Extends Brazil’s Betting Ban, Leaving Operators in Limbo

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has secured an unprecedented fourth term, winning the run-off with 51.8% of the vote – a result that prolongs the uncertainty hanging over Brazil’s licensed betting sector following his September ban on online wagering. Lula’s victory means the government that introduced the ban remains in power for another four years, dashing hopes among licensed operators for a swift policy reversal. For international groups such as Flutter Entertainment and Entain, both of which invested significantly in the newly regulated Brazilian market, the re-election raises pressing questions about the future of their operations in one of…