The national online betting industry breathed a sigh of relief with the decision of the Chamber of Representatives to reject the creation of Cide-Bets.
The contribution, which intended to tax users’ financial transfers by 15%, was excluded through a highlight during the vote on the Anti-Gang Bill.
For sector executives, the imposition of this tax would be fatal for the newly regulated market, functioning, in practice, as a direct incentive to strengthen illegal platforms.
Why deposit taxes threaten the viability of legal operations
Market representatives argue that financial mathematics does not add up.
With bookmakers’ profit margins operating in the range of 13% to 14%, adding a 15% fee directly to the player’s capital would detract from the attractiveness of legal operation.
João Fraga, CEO of Paag, highlighted that the retreat removes the immediate stimulus to informality and preserves the sustainability of the ecosystem.
The industry’s warning now goes to the Senate, fearing that the issue will again be an issue in future proceedings.
The “Colombia Effect” and the billion-dollar impact of the underground market
To illustrate the real danger of the measure, companies use the collapse scenario that occurred in Colombia.
In the neighboring country, the implementation of a similar tax increase caused a drastic drop of 50% in the volume of deposits made on legal platforms.
Bernardo Cavalcanti Freire, legal consultant for the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), reinforces this thesis.
He states that consumers automatically migrate to clandestine sites whenever they notice any tax on the amount deposited to play.
The impact of this escape is already costly to public coffers.
According to a study by LCA Consultores, supported by the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), Brazil loses more than R$10 billion annually to the parallel market.
The research shows that, in 2025, 61% of respondents admitted to having bet on irregular platforms.