Brazil debates using betting revenue to fund national sports initiatives

New bill would amend existing lottery allocation to support infrastructure beyond soccer.

Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies is reviewing Bill 4518/24, which proposes allocating 1% of net revenue from online betting, after prizes and taxes, directly to the National Sport Fund (Fundesporte). 

The proposal follows a similar bill under consideration that would direct 0.1% of betting revenue to Brazil’s Deaf Sports Federation.

Fundesporte supports sports infrastructure, events and the training of coaches, with an aim to broaden investment in the national sport sector.

The proposal, introduced by Deputy Stélio Dener, would amend the current lottery revenue law by reducing the Ministry of Sports’ share from 22.1% to 21.1%, redirecting the 1% to Fundesporte.

“We believe it’s possible to expand public support for a wider range of sports,” said Dener, noting that current funding is heavily concentrated in the national soccer.

The bill is undergoing a conclusive review in the committees on Sports, Finance and Taxation, besides the Constitution and Justice Commission. 

If approved at these levels, it may advance directly to Senate consideration without a floor vote in the full Chamber.

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The debate around betting revenue for sports intensified this week in the Senate’s Sports Commission, where representatives of Brazil’s Armed Forces advocated for including high-performance athletic programmes in the funding structure. 

They argued that ongoing projects rely on long-term financing and could benefit from dedicated betting revenue.

Senator Leila Barros, chair of the Sports Commission, stated that “betting is a reality in the country, especially in sports. Betting operators are the main sponsors of national soccer. So this has to be regulated.”

Carlos Mendez

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Odds tell a story long before the result does. When bettors learn to read that story properly, betting becomes a matter of discipline and value rather than emotion or guesswork.

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