Legislation
Brazil – Senate Sports Commission approves report on online bill
By James - 9 November 2023
The Senate Sports Commission (CEsp) has voted in favour of the official report on Brazil’s sports betting bill. The report was filed by the bill’s rapporteur Senator Romário after the vote was delayed on Tuesday (07 November).
A number of amendments were made to the text. As predicted online casinos were excluded from the bill. While the tax on sports betting was kept at 18% GGR the duration of licenses was extended to five years from three. There was more good news for operators as according to the newly revised version of the bill license holders would be permitted to offer three different online sportsbetting platforms under a single licence.
Less positive amendments covered advertising. Sports betting advertising in sports arenas was banned completely as was sponsorship. According to the text, the bill was amended to “prohibit advertising or commercial advertising in sports arenas and in any mass media such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio and social media, between 6 am and 10:59 pm.” In addition it prohibits “actions that sponsor teams, individual athletes, former athletes, referees, members of professional and amateur technical committees of all sports, as well as championships organized by Olympic sports confederations, recognized and linked to the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), as well as the federations affiliated to them of all sports.”
It should be noted that the bill is being processed simultaneously also by the Economic Affairs Committee (CAE) under the rapporteurship of Senator Angelo Coronel. The official review coming out of that committee is likely to differ significantly from the report issued by the CEsp. It is believed that Senator Angelo Coronel is looking to reduce taxes on the sector while the committee is not opposed to the inclusion of online casinos in the bill.
