The sports betting PM was announced on the 25th of July. To monitor the market, the Federal Government is structuring a new body, the National Secretariat for Prizes and Bets.
The National Secretariat for Prizes and Bets will be linked to the Ministry of Finance, a portfolio headed by Fernando Haddad.
According to a report by O Globo, this secretariat will have agents from the Federal Police and the Council for the Control of Financial Activities (Coaf) to monitor the sports betting market in Brazil.
So far, around 70 companies are interested in regularizing their operations in the country. Check out all the details below in the article signed by Victoria Abel and Renan Monteiro and published this Monday, 14.
Sports betting: National Secretariat for Prizes and Bets will have PF and Coaf to monitor system and investigate fraud
After publishing a provisional measure (PM) to regulate the sports betting sector, at the end of July, the federal government is preparing to create the new National Secretariat for Prizes and Bets, within the Ministry of Finance.
The body will have agents from the Federal Police and the Council for the Control of Financial Activities (Coaf) to monitor the sports betting system in the country, also called “Bets”.
A general decree to reorganize the structure of the portfolio commanded by Fernando Haddad should come out in the coming weeks, with the inclusion of the new secretariat.
O GLOBO had access to the design of the organization chart, which is already being assembled. There will be four subdivisions in total:
- accreditation secretariat;
- monitoring;
- oversight;
- sanction.
There will be at least 54 positions, 60% of them already defined.
But the ministry’s technicians are still negotiating an increase to 65 posts. The new secretariat should cost about R$ 4 million a year, with technology equipment and field agents.
The accreditation undersecretary will be responsible for the authorization process of the companies, document analysis and payment of the grant. The company will need to have a CNPJ in Brazil. This subsecretariat will also be responsible for the collection and destination.
The investigation will be concentrated in the undersecretariat for monitoring, which will be headed by a delegate from the Federal Police. The name has not yet been released.
The department will have the market surveillance systems in Brazil, with analysis of information on possible illicit practices, such as manipulation of results and money laundering.
In the inspection undersecretary, the focus will be on companies that are already accredited and operating in the market, being responsible for verifying that they are complying with the compliance rules.
The undersecretary of sanctioning actions will be responsible for initiating administrative processes for the application of possible punishments in cases of irregularities.
70 interested companies
To obtain the operating license in Brazil, each Bet will have to pay an authorization fee in the amount of R$ 30 million.
Members of the Ministry of Finance estimate that at least 70 companies are already interested in regulate betting activities in the country. There will be between five and 10 years of license for operations. Technicians are still studying the ideal time.
Haddad’s allies also hope that American sports betting companies will become interested in the Brazilian market. This is because these companies are listed on stock exchanges and can only operate in regulated markets.
The expectation is that Brazil will become an attractive market, from the regulation. Just with the regularization of Bets, the government hopes to raise BRL 2 billion in 2024, but the value should increase over the years, when the sector consolidates.
The estimated annual collection could be between R$ 6 billion and R$ 12 billion.
As the market is not regulated, the technicians at the Treasury are working based on projections from entities and associations in the sector, considering companies already in operation and the possible entry of new bookmakers.
In addition to the initial grant, a fee of 18% will be charged on the companies’ gross revenue for each event. This tax — called Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) — is practiced in other countries and is typical for gambling activities.
“In addition to the 18% tax on the gross revenue of betting companies, there are federal and municipal taxes already applicable. This fee, specific to the sector, is known as Gross Gaming Revenue, charged “per event”, that is, for each game or match”, says tax lawyer Mozar Carvalho, who works in the area.
Return of Lotex
The amount does not affect prizes paid to players and does not exclude the obligation of companies to pay other taxes, such as Corporate Income Tax (IRPJ) or Tax on Services (ISS).
The prize received by the gambler will now be taxed at 30% on the Income Tax (IRPF), with the exception of prizes of up to R$ 2,112, which are exempt.
Whoever plays and does not win will not have to pay tax. The money raised from the GGR will be split as follows:
- 10% will be allocated to Social Security;
- 3% for the Ministry of Sport;
- 2,55% to the National Public Security Fund (FNSP);
- 1.63% for sports clubs;
- 0.82% for basic education.
In addition to Bets, the new secretariat will also take care of other betting systems that already exist in the country, such as Loterias Caixa. The Ministry of Finance will also start to monitor any type of promotion made by companies and stores.
The Lula government also wants to take back Lotex, known as scratch cards. But, for that, a bidding process will be opened to choose a single operating company. The scratchcard will not have competitors, unlike Bets.
At the same time that it sent the MP to Congress, the Treasury sent a bill to regularize the market.
Leaders of the Chamber of Deputies say that the PM should expire, and only the bill will go through. Deputies guarantee that the rules and fees provided for in the MP will be included in the PL. The proposal should cover the other betting activities in the country.
