"Worse than the jogo do bicho today is that, 24 hours a day, there is gambling on television, digital gambling," said Lula, referring to online betting, whose companies advertise on TV and sponsor television shows and even the Rio Carnival.
The president continued: "This is because casinos are prohibited here. Because a casino is gambling, jogo do bicho is something else. But in electronic gambling, now a 5-year-old child to a 90-year-old person can play. There is no limit. The order is to play."
"As companies are not yet paying taxes because the law has not been passed, they are earning a lot and paying little," he said. In criticizing the sports betting sector, Lula said that families "are spending 14% of what they earn on electronic gambling today."
Contrary to what Lula said, the regulation of sports betting has already been approved by Congress and sanctioned by him. The law establishes a fixed tax rate, and the authorization for online casinos was sanctioned by Lula with vetoes on December 30, 2023, and came into effect on the same day.
The text establishes a 12% tax rate on the revenue of betting houses, minus the payment of prizes. Bettors pay 15% of the amount won with the prize. The law also prohibits minors under 18 from placing bets.
Lula's statements were made during a Petrobras event to promote culture and the creative economy. The ceremony took place at the MAM (Museum of Modern Art) in Flamengo Park, south zone of Rio de Janeiro.
The regulation process, however, is still ongoing. The responsibility for this lies with the Prizes and Bets Secretariat. The agency, linked to the Ministry of Finance, was created at the end of last month.
In his speech, Lula got confused and said that the law taxing online bets was not approved – which was actually done at the end of the last legislative year.
Source: GMB
