Brazilian committee approves hearing on betting oversight and Blaze case
Regulation2 min read
In brief
- Brazil's Chamber of Deputies Finance and Taxation Committee approved a request for a public hearing on betting oversight.
- The request covers tax compliance and possible money-laundering signs linked to reported facts involving Willer Tomaz and Blaze.
- Rocha says the request does not prejudge any offence or responsibility.
- The hearing date has not been set.
The Finance and Taxation Committee (CFT) of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies approved a request from deputy Hildo Rocha (MDB-MA) for a public hearing on Wednesday. The hearing does not yet have a date.
The request asks for a debate on the tax regularity of online betting platforms and on how well the mechanisms for oversight and control of financial movements work. It also covers the possible existence of tax irregularities or signs of money laundering linked to reported facts involving lawyer Willer Tomaz and the company that operates the Blaze platform in Brazil. The request was submitted on 29 October.
In his justification, Rocha says the expansion of the online betting market requires stronger tax oversight, financial transparency and money-laundering prevention. He cites recent reports about financial operations involving Tomaz and Blaze, as well as possible failures in monitoring procedures attributed to the operator. Rocha adds that the request does not prejudge whether any offence occurred or whether any person or company is responsible. According to the deputy, the hearing is meant to gather official information to assess whether existing controls are sufficient, identify gaps and discuss measures to improve oversight.
The request invites the Finance Ministry, in particular its Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), with the participation of the Subsecretariat for Monitoring and Oversight. The Federal Revenue Service is invited to explain tax oversight of companies in the sector, revenue declarations and the collection of applicable taxes. The Ministry of Sport is invited through its National Secretariat for Sports Betting and Economic Development of Sport. The financial intelligence unit Coaf is invited to explain, within legal limits, how suspicious financial transactions in the sector are reported and analysed. The Federal Police is invited to give institutional explanations on tackling possible financial crimes linked to betting platforms, within the limits of investigative secrecy.