TLDR Former Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad accused betting companies of running a disinformation campaign against him over tax enforcement Haddad claimed operators spent years working illegally without paying income tax before regulation took effect Industry representatives deny any orchestrated campaign against the former minister Brazil’s regulated betting market generated around R$14.45 billion for state budgets and social programs in 2025 Experts warn that policy decisions based on political narratives could destabilize the regulated market and push users toward illegal sites
Brazil’s online betting industry is caught in the middle of a political dispute after former Finance Minister Fernando Haddad accused gambling firms of waging a disinformation campaign against him.
Haddad made the claims in recent interviews, saying the companies targeted him because he pushed to tax the sector. He said they tried to intimidate him for refusing to give in to what he called extortioners.
“They tried to intimidate me because I refused to yield to extortioners who were doing business for four years illegally, operating without paying income tax,” Haddad said.
He also questioned why betting companies should be treated differently from other industries when it comes to taxation. He pointed out that for years, these firms paid no income tax and no tax on profits.
The online gambling industry in Brazil has faced growing public criticism in recent months. The sector has been linked to concerns about public health and rising household debt.
Industry representatives have pushed back against Haddad’s claims. Francisco Manssur, a former special advisor at the Ministry of Finance, said he had hundreds of meetings with the sector in 2023 and found no evidence of any organized campaign against the former minister.
How Brazil’s Betting Market Took Shape
Legal gambling in Brazil began operating under Law No. 14,790/2023, which came years