Brazil bans sports betting days before presidential election

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has ordered a ban on sports betting websites, a major source of sponsorship for the country’s football clubs, days before the presidential election in which he is seeking a fourth term.
The decision comes amid a rapid expansion of gambling in Brazil, with concerns that betting has pushed many people into debt.
Opinion polls have also indicated strong public opposition to the industry, which Lula has previously described as a “cancer.”
Finance Minister Dario Durigan announced the measure on Friday at an event attended by Lula, saying bettors would no longer be able to deposit money into betting platforms operating in the country.
“It is...