The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), was one of the main responsible for maintaining the 18% tax rate for companies in the sector in the sports betting bill, even with the government's signal to accept the reduction to 12% as businesspeople and some parties wanted.
Lira also acted to reduce the validity period for companies to operate bets related to official sporting events from 10 to 3 years, upon payment of the grant of up to R$30 million (US$ 6m).
To his peers, the president of the Chamber said that he entered into this arrangement “to avoid malicious speculation.” He insisted on the thesis that “it was necessary to be tough, to preserve the image of the Chamber,” and not allow any suggestion that deputies could have been co-opted by the sector. “If the Senate wants, let them be the ones to make it more flexible,” he reportedly told congressmen.
It is worth noting, however, that the project to be voted on by the Senate reduces the quota of revenue allocated to social security from 10 to 2% and that the resources from betting will also be transferred to education, sport and tourism. In other words, part of the amount collected from taxes will go to the Ministry of Sports, which is currently owned by André Fufuca (PP-MA), from the same party as Lira.
Source: Estadão
