Lula bans fixed-odds sports betting a week before Brazilian elections

President's hard, drastic and necessary measure', likely to attract widespread public support, polls suggest

The Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has signed an order banning fixed-odds sports betting just over a week before the first round of the presidential election, in a move he said was designed to tackle the pervasive problem of families falling into debt.

The decision ends the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of betting.