On Camila Bomfim's blog at O Globo, the columnist states that the provisional measure and the bill that will regulate sports betting will be signed today (Thursday 20th), by President Lula. According to her, the information comes from interlocutors at the Ministry of Finance, who would have received this signal from the Civil House.
At the same time, the Minister of Finance Fernando Haddad, said, after meeting this Wednesday (19th) with Deputy Arthur Lira (PP-AL), that he agreed with the President of the Chamber that the House will analyze the regulation in August.
“We deal with the PM of the positions, not just of bets sector. But the [betting] bill should go to the Chamber this semester,” said the minister.
The government hopes to start collecting as soon as possible through the values of grants for licenses (R$ 30 million each –US$ 6.25m-) and taxes on the activity. In addition, a decree will be issued to reactivate Lotex, the instant lottery known as ‘raspadinha’ (scratch card).
The PM for sports betting will deal with taxation, accreditation of bookmakers and what will and will not be allowed in the operation. The Bill will deal with sanctions for companies that do not comply with rules, administrative processes and the rules of the structure of the Secretariat for Betting and Lotteries, linked to the Ministry of Finance.
The regulation will take place through a provisional measure and a bill on an urgent basis and was decided after an agreement between Arthur Lira and the government. The Bill will have 45 days to be analyzed and locks the agenda if there is no analysis.
What is already taken for granted is the 16% tax on the GGR to be applied to bookmakers and a grant fee of R$ 30 million (US$ 6.25m), valid for five years. The gambler will be taxed at 30% for prizes above R$ 2,112 (US$ 440).
Only companies that are accredited will be able to operate in the country and will have a period of 180 days to do so after the publication of the ordinance that will give the general guidelines for accreditation.
In addition, the government will establish ways in which users will pay companies and how they will receive prizes, but it has already signaled that only companies authorized by the Central Bank will be able to intermediate such financial operations, in order to guarantee that sports betting is not used for money laundering.
Rules will also be established for responsible gaming and how bookmakers should conduct their advertising and publicity strategies. Serpro – Federal Data Processing Service will participate in the process of monitoring tax collection and manipulation on betting sites.
With the regulation of sports betting, the government hopes to raise R$ 12 billion (US$ 2.5b) in the first year, between grant amounts and taxes. Another R$ 3 billion (US$ 625m) would be generated from the resumption of the Instant Lottery, Lotex, whose decree to recreate the modality should come out later this month.
Source: GMB
