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The president is not seeking to introduce the measures through a full bill, as the legislative process in Congress could reduce their immediate political impact ahead of the elections.

Some factions within the government, especially the Ministry of Finance, are resisting more drastic measures. The Ministry of Finance, responsible for regulating sports betting and online gaming, understands the sector’s importance to the economy. Finance Minister Dario Durigan’s difficulty lies in convincing Lula that a well-regulated activity is important for public finances. Lula has said, in line with critics of the sector, that if it were up to him, he would end betting in Brazil.

The president’s critical view of betting is on par with other candidates. Studies by the Workers’ Party (PT) indicate that three out of four Brazilians are against betting establishments. This is the president’s justification against the sector.

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A memorandum of understanding, signed on Monday, aims to tackle rising gambling exposure among schoolchildren through smartphones. The aim is to integrate preventative education with broader school-based initiatives.

The agreement was signed at Osan Seongho Middle School and links gambling prevention education with a “phone free” strategy alongside RAS education. RAS is an approach combining reading, arts and sports and is designed to occupy students’ time with structured, screen-free activities. 

The dual approach seeks not only to limit access to gambling content on smartphones but also to provide meaningful alternatives that reduce overall reliance on digital devices.

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The PUC ordered the utility to continue supplying electricity to the casino provided the solar system remains behind the meter—meaning it does not export power onto the wider grid.

“What you’re doing is wrong,” Commissioner Audrey Partridge told the cooperative during Thursday’s hearing, according to news reports. “I think you have lost your tether to the purpose of an electric utility.”

The decision follows a long-running battle over the multimillion-dollar solar project, which the Upper Sioux Community began developing in 2024 to curb electricity costs and advance its clean-energy goals.