The Ministry of Sport (MEsp) joined the establishment of the Interministerial Working Group (GTI) on Games. This initiative, coordinated by the Ministry of Culture (MinC), aims to regulate Law No. 14.852/2024, which established the Legal Framework for the Electronic Games Industry in Brazil.
The committee brings together ministries, strategic bodies of the Federal Government, and representatives from the sector. The group works together to develop proposals to consolidate games as a strategic segment of audiovisual production, culture, the creative economy, and sports.
How can the GTI regulate electronic games?
The participation of the Ministry of Sports reinforces the Brazilian government’s guideline of treating electronic sports (eSports) as an interministerial agenda. In this sense, the work involves training, social inclusion, the economics of sports, and the protection of children and adolescents who work in or wish to enter the sector.
The GTI Games will develop proposals to regulate the legislation. At the end of its work, the group will submit a report to the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes, with recommendations for implementing the Legal Framework and formulating public policies aimed at the sustainable development of the area.
How will the coordination between the departments work?
During the installation, the executive secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Márcio Tavares, highlighted the coordination between the ministries.
He stated: “Celebrating this moment is another step in the institutionalization of policies for games. We face the challenge of creating good regulations, and this working group has much to contribute to the development of those policies.”
Furthermore, Tavares highlighted the presence of the Ministry of Sport in the GTI: “The gaming sector is dynamic and involves many languages, including that of electronic sports.
The participation of the Ministry of Sport in this working group is very important, as it reinforces the Brazilian government’s vision, based on an inter-ministerial agenda for a sector that is increasingly important to our economy, our culture, and our sport.
In turn, the National Secretary for Sports Betting and Economic Development of Sport, Giovanni Rocco, assessed that the creation of the GTI represents institutional progress.
Rocco highlighted: “The creation of this working group is very important for the dialogue between ministries and for the careful consideration given to Brazilian athletes, who, in most cases, are children and adolescents.
We are talking about both the economic dimension and entrepreneurship in the gaming sector, as well as the protection, training, and career development.”
Actions taken by the Ministry of Sport for eSports
According to Giovanni Rocco, MEsp also treats esports as an instrument of social inclusion.
Rocco stated: “This agenda involves sports, culture, education, health, and quality of life. Esports can be a mechanism for social inclusion, and this is an issue we are looking at very carefully at the Ministry of Sports, as directed by Minister André Fufuca.”
“It’s the Brazilian government looking out for the most vulnerable and using innovative tools as instruments of inclusion.”
The GTI installation included representatives from the following ministries:
- Development;
- Industry, Commerce and Services;
- Education;
- Health;
- Treasury;
- Science;
- Technology and Innovation;
- Justice and Public Security.
Also participating were the National Film Agency (Ancine), the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), the Attorney General’s Office (AGU), and the Brazilian Association of Electronic Game Developers (Abragames).
It was decided that the GTI will meet bi-weekly to develop joint regulatory proposals. The objective is to strengthen the sector as a driver of economic development, innovation, culture, and social inclusion in the country.
Secretary Giovanni Rocco also reported that the ministry has prepared a guide on the integration of esports in Brazil. Therefore, the material will be released soon and will guide players and entrepreneurs on opportunities, rights, and ways to operate.
MEsp’s eSports director, Márcio Zuba, presented an overview of the ongoing initiatives.
Zuba explained: “We have officially contacted all 27 state sports secretariats and are currently contacting municipalities to identify which public policies are being developed regarding esports, how managers view this issue, and what initiatives exist in their territories. This work has already reached approximately 15 states at the municipal level and all states at the state level.”
Free scholarships and national policy survey
The ministry also sought out federal and state universities to map courses, undergraduate programs, graduate programs, and training initiatives related to games and esports.
Zuba added: “This survey directly relates to the GTI, as it generates knowledge that can be shared and incorporated into public policies.”
Another point involves the Technical Cooperation Agreement signed with UNIFATECIE. The partnership resulted in the offer of 10,000 free scholarships for online courses aimed at the gaming and esports sectors.
The scholarships are aimed at young people aged 15 to 29, with priority given to students from the public school system. By the end of 2024, approximately 9,400 scholarships had already been filled, reaching all states, with strong participation from public school students.
Finally, Zuba highlighted: “These are 100% free courses, offered by the Ministry of Sport in partnership with the university, focusing on technical, behavioral, and digital entrepreneurship skills. The reception has been very positive and demonstrates the potential of esports as a public policy for training and development.”
