The parliamentarians met as many times as they considered necessary, modified the text, contributed their amendments, added, discarded and finally reached a text so consensual that it was not necessary to take it to a vote. Absolute unanimity, congratulations to the rapporteur Flexa Ribeiro and hugs between politicians from different parties who worked together for the common good, with the necessary maturity.
Among the amendments that it was decided to add, it appears the number 32 corresponding to the deputy Otávio Leite (PSDB/RJ) that will allow the Union to offer the modality of fixed odd bettings or sports bets, under the authorization and supervision of the Finance Ministry. The text of Leite’s amendment suffered slight variations referring to the distribution of the money collected, prizes, percentages, etc. But it was never removed from the text.
In other moment, perhaps these same politicians would have rejected Leite’s proposal. By ideology, ignorance, false statistics or religious impositions, the parliamentarians would have decided to eliminate the sports bettings of this Measure without thinking about the schools, the museums or the greater amount of police to guard the streets that can be obtained with the tax money that this properly regulated market generates in the countries where it is legalized.
After a long time of struggle to raise awareness of known people or anonymous to society, specialists who have traveled the world to acquire knowledge, associations, lawyers, foundations, the Institute of Legal Gaming and even media such as Games Magazine Brasil, the work paid off and the results are visible.
It was hardly a step but perhaps in the future, we remember it as the foundation stone of the birth of a millionaire market that provides money to pay for Education, Culture and Sports of Brazil. Sports betting is a reality in the most important football leagues in the world such as the Bundesliga, the Premier, LaLiga or the Calcio Serie A. The Supreme Court of the United States has just resolved that each state can define if and under what conditions they accept sport bettings. And there are more examples to name.
The key to these mature markets are the regulatory frameworks and the control agencies that give the bettor the required and obligatory peace of mind to defend their money. Recently at Games Magazine Brasil, the president of the Financial Activities Control Council (COAF), Antonio Ferreira de Sousa, assured that the country is prepared to detect fraudulent money laundering activities related to gaming. Several major Brazilian soccer leagues have already hired companies like Sportradar that detect match-fixing to punish the offenders. Is this enough? No. It is obvious that controls must be increased to combat illegality. But that expense will be negligible compared to the profits.
Since the time when Mansueto Almeida was the Secretary of Fiscal, Energy and Lottery, and today under the command of Alexandre Manoel, the Finance Ministry has been evaluating the possibility of promoting this modality in a harmonious, modern and innovative environment. The idea is to analyze the regulations of the states that legalized in the US and take the best to adapt it to Brazil. The technicians of SEFEL obtained experience, knowledge and ideas of their frequent participation in the most important international gaming fairs like G2E or ICE and even of courses dictated in Las Vegas. Key decisions should be made as to whether we are going to have a monopoly market or one open to foreign investment with several licenses. That will be later. There is capacity and will. The legislation is missing.
When GMB journalists have to cover international events, it is usual to receive inquiries about the situation of gaming in Brazil, which is mentioned as a "sleeping giant". That's because the world waits for the country to wake up. The industry wants to invest and trusts to the point that an international company like Clarion will organize on December 3 and 4 the first Online Gaming Summit Brazil 2018 at the Pacaembu stadium in San Pablo. There, important local and foreign personalities will precisely discuss the great chances that can be opened with the legalization of sports betting, among other things.
Brazil has from now to November 28, the date on which the PM 846 will fall if it is not voted on before, a huge opportunity to open a market that is not to be feared but to receive like any other industry that arrives in a country and pays high taxes. In the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, parliamentarians should discuss the PM 846 and decide if we stay in the pre-historic time or give the new Government the necessary resources to build schools, help the social function of the clubs and prevent museums from keep on burning.
FABIAN TETELBOIM
Editor de Games Magazine Brasil
