Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has announced a ban on online casinos, citing the detrimental impact of gambling addiction on families. Lula emphasized that gambling addiction, predominantly affecting men, financially burdens women, as funds for essentials are lost to online betting. He pledged to collaborate with Congress and the Judiciary to curb the influence of online gambling platforms. The ban raises concerns for Brazil's nascent prediction market industry, which operates in a regulatory gray area. While some prediction markets are regulated as financial securities, others, like Polymarket and local platforms such as Previas and Palpitada, may face classification as betting platforms. Experts warn that without clear regulations, the sector could be dominated by foreign entities, especially during major events like the World Cup and elections.