EBAC co-founder Ricardo Magri argued that Brazil’s increased tax burden could push betting activity towards the parallel market. He also criticised the tax and concession costs, and said regulated operators need to adapt responsible-gambling communications for different audiences.
Magri’s warning links the tax burden to the competitiveness of regulated betting and the risk of activity shifting to illegal operators.
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Brazilian presidential candidates Ronaldo Caiado and Augusto Cury proposed tighter controls on fixed-odds betting at a business-sector event on 18 August. Caiado said he would restrict betting advertising and use financial authorities to track sector-related transactions; Cury called for higher taxes but did not specify a rate.
Brazilian Finance Minister Dario Durigan advocated stronger oversight and higher taxes on betting companies at an event on 24 July, while also backing restrictions for people in financially vulnerable circumstances. He said the government wants to use operator betting data to identify frequent bettors and prevent benefit recipients and people using the Desenrola debt programme from betting. Durigan also said the government was working to reduce betting advertising.
Brazil Finance Minister Dario Durigan called for stricter betting regulation, higher taxes and tighter advertising limits, saying the sector’s growth had become a government concern. In an interview, he argued against a full ban because it could push activity into illegal channels and said the government had asked the Comptroller General of the Union to help review cases and disclose data proactively.
Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service projected R$260 million in revenue from an increase in gross gaming revenue taxation for betting operators. Secretary Robinson Barreirinhas said tax measures affecting betting, fintechs and interest on equity are expected to generate R$4.4 billion in total.
A Genial/Quaest poll released on 19 December found that 55% of respondents supported higher taxes on banks, billionaires and betting companies in Brazil; 34% opposed the measure and 11% did not know or declined to answer. The survey covered 2,004 people in 120 municipalities from 11 to 14 December, with a two-point margin of error. The report said a Senate-approved bill proposing a gradual rise in betting taxation from 12% to 15% was awaiting President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s sanction.