The signing of Provisional Measure (PM) 1.182/2023, better known as PM of bettings, increases the greed of Centrão parties for the Ministry of Sports and increases pressure – already high – for mini-reform in the Ministries. The Legal Framework for Games, on electronic games, is being discussed in the Senate.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) signed the provisional measure that amends Law 13,756, of 2018, and regulates sports betting in the country, in addition to establishing an 18% rate on revenue obtained from games.
The text also establishes the mandatory destination of part of the collection for social security (10%); the Sports folder (3%); to the National Public Security Fund (2.55%), to clubs and athletes that have names and symbols linked to betting (1.63%); and basic education (0.82%).
Although it has immediate effect since last Tuesday (1st), the text will have to be analyzed and approved in plenary by deputies and senators in the next 120 days in order not to expire.
If the ministry goes to the PP or Republicans, as Centrão wants, the idea is that he will take care of these duties.
Last year, Lira approved a project in the Chamber that legalized gambling in Brazil, such as bingos, casinos, jogo do bicho and online games.
The text provided that 10% of the collection would finance programs and actions in the field of sport. The proposal has not yet begun to move through the Senate.
If the idea goes ahead, however, the proceeds from the games should help finance a more robust budget for the Ministry of Sports.
The government's expectation is that the collection, still in 2024, will reach R$ 2 billion (US$ 410m), reaching up to R$ 12 billion (US$ 2.45bn) in other years. In practice, this means that, if the Planalto Palace's calculations are confirmed, the ministry currently headed by former volleyball player Ana Moser should receive, next year alone, R$ 60 million (US$ 12.3m). In other years, funds from betting can reach R$ 360 million (US$ 73.8m).
The forecast budget for the Ministry of Sports this year would be R$ 200 million (US$ 41m). The projection increases the greed of parties for the portfolio, one of those claimed by the Centrão to guarantee “tranquility” in the pro-government votes in the National Congress.
The main candidate to replace Moser in Sports is federal deputy Silvio Costa Filho (Republicans-PE), known as Silvinho among government supporters and congresswomen. In the Chamber, the Republicans have a bench of 41 congressmen, which makes the possible rapprochement of the party with the Lula government even more interesting in the eyes of the Planalto.
Source: Metrópoles
