In this exclusive interview, senator Angelo Coronel (PSD-BA) comments on how the vote on the Sports Betting bill in Brazil turned out.
Last Wednesday (29), the Plenary postponed the vote on PL 3626/2023, a bill that regulates sports betting and online gambling in Brazil.
In short, after being approved by the Sports Committee at the beginning of November and last week by the Economic Affairs Committee (CAE), the project was included as the second item on the agenda of the deliberative session.
Therefore, as the PL underwent changes in the Senate, it will return to the Chamber for further deliberation.
Senator Angelo Coronel (PSD-BA) managed to present the report on PL 3626/2023, which regulates sports betting and online gaming in Brazil, to the Senate Plenary.
New vote on the Sports Betting Bill
Therefore, Rodrigo Pacheco will probably preside over the session this week.
This project is a priority for the economic team as it has great tax collection potential for Brazil. Likewise, it has been expected by the sector since 2018.
The iGaming Brazil portal spoke with the project’s rapporteur in the Senate, senator Angelo Coronel.
Exclusive interview with Senator Angelo Coronel:
iGamingBrazil: Senator, what were the main reasons for the postponement of the PL vote?
Angelo Coronel: The project is complex and controversial and the ideal is for the largest number of senators to vote.
The postponement will allow us to continue talking to our parliamentary colleagues and demonstrating that the regulation we are proposing is good for the country.
With this, it is even possible to make any small adjustments that prove necessary.
iGamingBrazil: What is the strong point of this project?
Angelo Coronel: The strong point is bringing into regulation something that has been legal in Brazil since 2018 with Law 13,756.
Today we have a vast betting market present in the population’s daily lives. Companies sponsor championships, clubs, athletes and opinion makers.
All of this without proper regulation, without proper limits and without raising a single cent in taxes for the country.
Only with regulation will we have resources to combat, for example, gambling addiction, since the project allocates a percentage for the Ministry of Health to implement public policy in this regard.
Likewise, clandestinity will be combatted through the control tools proposed in the text. Finally, with regulation with clear rules, we will have more operators, a larger market and more revenue for the country.
Lower but concrete taxation
iGamingBrazil: As rapporteur at the CAE and the Plenary, you reduced the tax charged on the revenue of betting companies to 12%. Why?
Angelo Coronel: After a comparative analysis of the taxation of betting between different economies, a growing migration to the illegal market was found with the increase in the tax rate.
As it came from the Chamber, the text provided for an 18% charge on net betting revenue.
In turn, combined with other taxes, fees and contributions, it would culminate in a burden on the sector thatwould encourage the channeling of bets to the illegal market, reducing the total revenue forecast.
In conversations with the Ministry of Finance, we came to the conclusion that the 12% rate is more appropriate to guarantee the necessary tax collection and not discourage investment.
iGamingBrazil: What are the amendments that have emerged and do you think they are valid?
Angelo Coronel: In Plenary, we had many amendments with the same content as those presented in the Economic Affairs Committee.
Most of them are being rejected and we are accepting those that bring adjustments that we find interesting. For example, the amendments that equate taxation on fixed-odd bettors and Fantasy Sports.
iGamingBrazil: Do you believe that this week there will finally be a vote to begin a new phase of a regulated Brazil?
Angelo Coronel: We still depend on the position of the president of the Senate, Senator Rodrigo Pacheco, who is responsible for the agenda. But, if not this week, at the latest, the next.
