Debate between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro did not address ban on bets

On October 18, the first televised face-to-face debate between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his runoff rival Flávio Bolsonaro took place, and the proposal to ban betting was not discussed at any point. The omission comes days after the Federal Police asked the Supreme Federal Court to investigate Flávio for alleged links to lawyer Willer Tomaz.

What was not discussed in the debate

The debate focused on accusations of corruption, public security and health, according to Metrópoles. Lula pressed Flávio to explain an alleged request for R$134 milhões from banker Daniel Vorcaro to finance the film Dark Horse about his father Jair Bolsonaro. Flávio, in turn, questioned Lula’s relationship with lobbyist Roberta Luchsinger.

Judicial investigation and links to Rede Loto

The Federal Police referred to the Supreme Federal Court a request to investigate an alleged money-laundering case involving Flávio Bolsonaro and lawyer Willer Tomaz, with Minister Alexandre de Moraes as the reporting judge. The request was disclosed by the Prosecutor General of the Republic. Among the evidence the police say they collected are payments for flights and movements in a bank account of Tomaz showing transactions of R$130 milhões between March and May 2025.

Rede Loto signed contract 001/2023 with the state lottery of Rio de Janeiro, Loterj, on 25 May 2023, becoming the first company accredited by a state lottery to offer sports betting before the federal licensing framework took effect. The bill proposing a ban on bets was not debated by the campaigns, nor was it raised in Lula’s interview on TV Globo about family debts.

Electoral calendar and licenses

Final debates are scheduled for 23 October; Flávio had until 19 October to confirm participation. The runoff is set for 25 October, the same date on which federal betting licenses will be removed under the current calendar. A Datafolha poll on 15 October placed Flávio at 51% of valid votes and Lula at 49%.