Transfers from betting operators to football clubs remain undefined due to the lack of government regulation. Without clear rules, companies in the sector await definitions to establish formal agreements. Meanwhile, clubs remain without access to potentially significant revenue.
Bookmakers face doubts about how to pass on part of the revenue to clubs and athletes due to the lack of Federal Government regulation on payment methods and exact beneficiaries.
With the deadline ending this Monday (3), experts recommend that operators deposit the amounts in court to avoid penalties.
The impasse involves Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), the amount remaining after paying prizes to bettors. According to Law No. 13,756/2018, 12% of this amount must be allocated to public and private entities, including sports clubs and federations. However, the Prizes and Betting Secretariat (SPA) has not yet detailed how some of the beneficiaries will receive the resources.
Tax lawyer Livia Heringer, from Ambiel Advogados, warns of the risks of the situation: “The lack of regulation puts operators at risk. As there are penalties for non-transfer, the only alternative is to go to court to deposit the amounts until the criteria are clarified”.
Clubs most affected in relation to the uncertainty of the transfer of bets
Furthermore, medium and small clubs are the most affected by the uncertainty, as they depend on these resources to maintain daily activities. At the same time, operators face operational difficulties as they do not know where to deposit funds correctly.
Gustavo Biglia, a specialist in gaming regulation, reinforces the practical problem: “The names of the entities are in the law, but in many cases there is not even an official bank account for deposits”. According to him, this creates widespread legal uncertainty in the sector.
On the other hand, the distribution between clubs and athletes also worries experts. Carlos Eduardo Ambiel, a specialist in sports law, highlights that “the Ministry of Sports could establish criteria that guarantee a fair division, benefiting those who really need it”.
Meanwhile, the guidance is that operators make judicial deposits of the amounts owed to avoid fines and ensure adequate future allocation of resources. In short, given the absence of an immediate solution, the betting sector and national sport remain in a scenario of prolonged uncertainty.
