Proposta de regulamentação das aposta esportivas inclui cassinos online
Relator do projeto, deputado Adolfo Viana. Foto: Reprodução /

The rapporteur of the bill that provides for the regulation of sports betting, deputy Adolfo Viana (PSDB-BA), announced this Tuesday (12) that the report includes the regulation not only of bookmakers, but online casinos as well.

“Unlike PL 442 (approved by the Chamber last year to legalize gambling in general), we are not talking about releasing new games, but collecting revenue from those that already exist. There is not a city in the country where online casinos are not played. “, said the parliamentarian.

Taxation will follow the model proposed by the Ministry of Finance, which establishes that operators will be taxed 18% on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) – revenue obtained from games played, minus the prizes paid to bettors.

Players will be exempt from Income Tax on prizes up to R$2,112. Above this value, the expected tax rate is 30%, as proposed by the government. The rapporteur intended to increase this range to expand the exemption limit, however, the idea did not move forward.

Furthermore, the rapporteur emphasized that the proposal also preserves the amount related to the license, of R$30 million for five years. While banks will not be able to carry out operations with companies that do not receive the Brazilian grant.

“We made a lot of progress in the text, but the majority of parliamentarians asked us to maintain the tax burden as the government sent it. I made a proposal to reduce it, but when we take on the responsibility of reporting a matter, we have to listen to the majority of deputies”, added Viana.

Sports betting regulation and revenue forecast

The revenue forecast estimated by the deputies is that the measure could generate up to R$18 billion with the regulation of the platforms. The Ministry of Finance projects up to R$2 billion in 2024, but ranging between R$6 billion and R$12 billion in the coming years in a fully regulated market.

However, the Annual Budget Law (PLOA) project sent to Congress foresees a revenue of R$1.6 billion in 2024. “If we do not regulate betting, it will continue to operate normally, without any compensation for the country,” he stated. deputy Mauricio do Vôlei (PL-MG) in a hearing in the Chamber.

Division of revenue according to the provisional measure:

  • 2.55% to the National Public Security Fund
  • 0.82% to elementary school
  • 1.63% to clubs, in return for the transfer of the name
  • 10% to social security
  • 3% to the Ministry of Sports

Division of revenue according to the bill:

  • 4% to the Ministry of Tourism
  • 1% to Embratur
  • 2.55% to the National Public Security Fund
  • 4% to the Ministry of Sports
  • 1% to sports committees
  • 1.63% to clubs and athletes, in return for the transfer of the name
  • 2% to social security
  • 1.82% to the Ministry of Education

Judicialization

The special advisor to the Ministry of Finance informed the deputies that the government can judicialize the issue of licenses issued by states that allow bets to operate throughout the country.

According to Agência Câmara de Notícias, the Executive’s fear is that the state movement will deplete interest in federal grants, affecting the revenue forecast.

Sports betting regulation - José Francisco Mansur
José Francisco Mansur. Photo: Vinicius Loures / Chamber of Deputies

Recently, the Rio de Janeiro State Lottery (Loterj) opened a tender to grant licenses at a lower cost than foreseen in federal government regulations (taxation of 5% of GGR and grant of R$5 million).

For José Francisco Mansur, states need to respect “geographical limits”. “We are talking to government lawyers to legalize the issue. It is not something that the government will allow, at least not without reacting”, he declared this Tuesday (12) at the Sports Committee of the Chamber of Deputies.