The sports betting CPI already has almost 100 signatures of deputies for its opening in the Chamber. The number represents a little more than half of the 171 signatures required for it to be implemented.
According to O Globo, the tendency is for the necessary number of subscriptions to be obtained by the end of the week. The proposal is from federal deputy Felipe Carreras (PSB/PE) and has the support of the President of the House, Arthur Lira (PP/AL). If the CPI is really open, this will be the first under his presidency.
Carreras took on the task of collecting signatures because he is the president of the Parliamentary Front in Defense of Sport and has prior experience in issues related to sports betting. He acted as rapporteur for the National Gambling System and the update of the Pelé Law.
Sports betting CPI emerges from match-fixing investigation
The creation of the CPI of sports betting is due to an investigation by the Public Ministry of Goiás (MPGO). On February 14, the MPGO launched the Maximum Penalty Operation, which is investigating an alleged match-fixing scheme for Serie B games of the 2022 Brazilian Championship.
The investigation is being conducted by Gaeco (Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime) and by GFUT (Special Action Group in Major Football Events) and began in November last year.
According to Gaeco, the scheme would have involved the co-option of athletes to commit penalties in the first half of the games. The three matches under investigation are:
- Criciúma vs Tombense, November 5, 2022;
- Sampaio Corrêa x Londrina, on November 5, 2022;
- Vila Nova x Sport, on November 6, 2022.
In this last duel, the MPGO reported that “despite the attempted manipulation and advance payment to the player, the penalty was not committed”. Investigations point out that the athletes received an advance of R$ 10,000 to carry out the combined action.
If the bet was successful, the athlete would pocket another R$ 140,000. According to the authorities, the expected profit from the bets was between R$ 500,000 and R$ 2 million.
The sports betting CPI has the support of the federal government and can be installed in the next few days, as soon as it reaches the required number of signatures.
