The plenary of the Federal Senate is expected to vote on bill 3,626, which deals with the regulation of sports betting, next week.

The expectation of the President of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, is that the vote will take place before the senators’ trip to the COP-28 on Climate Change, in Dubai, which begins next Thursday (30).

“We are going to have a session of the National Congress. It could be that this will be on Tuesday of next week, with one project or another,” he said.

The bill on the regulation of bets was approved last Wednesday (22) by the Senate’s Economic Affairs Committee (CAE), having also been approved by the Sports Committee (CEsp).

Busy schedule in the Senate

The topic is expected to be on the Senate’s agenda in a week with a busy schedule, including the vote on Proposed Amendments to the Constitution (PEC) such as the criminalization of possession of any quantity of drugs.

Senators will also include on the agenda bills on the taxation of offshore companies and changes to the pesticide registration system.

According to Senator Jorge Kajuru (PSB-GO), deputy leader of the government in the Senate, senators will form a “task force” in the coming weeks to speed up voting on important issues at the end of the year.

Senators need to approve next year’s budget this year and the sports betting bill plays an important role in achieving this goal.

“[The project that taxes] offshore investments and exclusive funds, we believe [will raise] R$20 to 25 billion. The gambling bill, from R$1 to 5 billion (…) This set is essential for the government to point out and insist on the zero deficit target for next year”, stated Senator Randolfe Rodrigues to the Senate Agency.

Project changes

The sports betting bill will reach the Senate plenary with changes proposed by Senator Angelo Coronel, who was the project’s rapporteur at the CAE.

Among the main points, there is the extension of the term of the concession charged to betting houses from 3 to 5 years and allowing the exploration of up to three brands per CNPJ and the reduction of the rate on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), from 18% to 12%.

Another important change is related to the tax collection on gamblers. The report presented by the senator reduces the rate from 30% to 15% , while maintaining the exemption rate of R$2,112.

If the plenary approves the changes, the text will have to be voted on again in the Chamber before being sent for presidential sanction.

The expectation is that this process will be completed this year, so that the government can already count on the collection of betting houses in 2024.