Legislation
Brazil – Governor wants sports betting revenue to protect the Amazon
By James - 8 May 2023
The Governor of the state of Pará, Helder Barbalho, has put forward a request to Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asking that regional states in the Amazon can obtain a larger part of funds generated by sports betting once its up and running.
In his letter the governor outlined the additional challenges that the conservation of the rainforest faces saying that it there was a clear need “for exceptional treatment in relation to the states that constitute it.”
If the president agrees to the measure then it would mean that a portion of sports betting revenue would be distributed among the governments of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Maranhão, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins. The document states that the consortium’s intention is to use the funds with policies aimed at protecting the Amazon.
“It seems that the Provisional Measure provided by this regulation is being prepared by the Ministry of Finance. However, income taxation provides benefits only to the National Public Security Fund, public education entities, and sports,” the letter went onto say.
Helder Barbalho is the president of the Interstate Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Legal Amazon Region – a combined initiative by Brazil’s nine Amazonian states to create and drive sustainable development based on shared policies and strategies.
The details of the sports betting bill are yet to be published. However according to the most recent reports in local media 2.55% of the 16% will be used for the National Public Security Fund. 0.82% will be allocated to funding primary schools. 1.63% will be awarded to sports clubs in return for rights to use logos and names. 10% will go to Social Security and 1% and will go to the Ministry of Sports.
