The Sports Committee (CEsp) of the Federal Senate discussed this Wednesday (18) bill 3,626, which deals with the regulation of sports betting in Brazil.

Senator Romário, the project’s rapporteur in the committee, presented a report in favor of approving the project , but the vote ended up being postponed due to a request for review by Senator Eduardo Girão.

During the meeting, two requests for a public hearing on the topic were approved, authored by senators Eduardo Girão and Cleitinho.

The bill was to be voted on last Tuesday (17) by the Economic Affairs Committee (CAE), but was removed from the agenda after rapporteur Senator Angelo Coronel failed to present a report.

The topic will be discussed in a public hearing at the CAE next Thursday (19), following a request from Senator Magno Malta.

The regulation of betting is processed bicamerally in the Senate, needing to be approved by the CAE and the CEsp before going to the Senate plenary.

Due to its urgent nature, the bill must be voted on in the Senate by November 11th to avoid blocking the agenda.

Changes in the text

The report presented by Senator Romário maintains the 18% tax rate on betting house profits but changes the distribution of resources within the government, including the Ministry of Health and civil entities. The division is as follows:

• 2% for Social Security;
• 1.82% for the Ministry of Education;
• 6.68% for the sports area, 4% for the Ministry of Sports and 2.23% for sports confederations, with the exception of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), 0.5% for the state and DF sports secretariats, 0.05% for the Brazilian Master Sports Committee;
• 4.30% for the tourism sector, with 3.50% for the Ministry of Tourism and 0.80% for Embratur;
• 0.5% for the Ministry of Health, for measures to prevent, control and mitigate social damages arising from the practice of gambling in the health areas; 0.15% divided among civil society entities, with 0.05% for Fenapaes (National Federation of Associations of Parents and Friends of the Exceptional), 0.05% for Fenapestalozzi (National Federation of Pestalozzi Associations), and 0.05% for the Brazilian Red Cross;
• 2.55% for the FNSP (National Public Security Fund)

Senator Eduardo Girão’s request for a public hearing to be held was also approved, with the aim of debating the impacts of fixed-odds betting practices on the manipulation of results and the involvement of this activity with criminal organizations.

Report for approval

The report presented by Senator Romário was in favor of approving amendments 14-U, 48-U and 61-U, and was against the others presented. Amendments 14-U and 48-U extend the term of the concession for companies from 3 to 5 years.

Amendment 61-U defends the self-regulation of betting advertisements by the Ministry of Finance, specifying that they will be aimed at an adult audience, so as not to have children and adolescents as the target audience.

Rapporteur Romário approved Senator Cleitinho’s request for a public hearing to be held with the aim of debating and discussing gambling and its consequences and impacts on the mental health of the Brazilian population.