The public hearing at the Finance and Taxation Commission was requested by Deputy Júnior Mano (PL-CE) and the objective was to hear the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, on the regulation of the sports betting sector.
As Haddad will travel to China in President Lula's entourage, he will be represented by José Francisco Manssur, executive secretary of the Ministry of Finance and responsible for regulating sports betting in Brazil. The advisor will also represent the Federal Revenue Secretary, Robinson Barreirinhas.
José Francisco Manssur is an experienced technician with deep knowledge of the entire process that led to the preparation of the previous drafts that would culminate in the regulation of sports betting in Brazil.
With the end of the last government and the non-signature of President Bolsonaro to the Provisional Measure, the new federal administration carried out new studies, based on previous surveys, and made some adjustments to the documents that will provide legal certainty for the operation of betting sites in Brazil.
According to Manssur, there was a broad discussion on the subject with the most diverse institutions involved. In other words, the debate has already involved, among others, the Ministry of Sport, the Central Bank (which oversees the remittance of funds abroad), the Federal Police, the Public Ministry, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), companies interested in operating the betting system in Brazil, betting associations and monitoring companies.
Thus, Manssur adequately qualifies for discussions at the Public Hearing precisely because of his involvement in the entire process over the last few years. It remains to be seen the details that will involve the regulation, especially with regard to the tax rates to be applied to operators, the cost of licenses and whether or not to tax bettors.
The meeting should also make it clear how the government will treat sports betting companies operating in Brazil that sponsor football clubs and championships, since the idea is that if they do not pay for the license they will not be able to continue sponsoring teams and tournaments in the country.
Furthermore, at the meeting it should be clear what will be the deadline for companies to settle in Brazil in order to be able to operate.
In addition to José Francisco Manssur, it is already confirmed the presence of Wesley Cardia, CEO of the National Association of Gaming and Lotteries; André Gelfi, president of the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming; Márcio Malta, CEO of Sorte Online; and lawyer Roberto Brasil Fernandes.
Source: GMB
