The measure is outlined in the 'Bets' Law (Law 14,790/23), which took effect in December 2023, but it did not define all the rules for distributing these funds.
According to Pietro Lorenzoni, Legal Director of the National Association of Gaming and Lotteries (ANJL), transfers to Olympic committees and civil society organizations listed in the law (such as Apae, Pestalozzi, and the Red Cross) are up to date, handled through the National Distribution Office created by the 'Bets'.
The association represents 35 licensed operators, which, in the first half of this year alone, transferred R$ 2.1 billion (US$389m) to the designated entities. Lorenzoni explained the current stalemate regarding the R$ 767 million (US$142m) meant for athletes, clubs, and federations:
“This money is set aside in an account, waiting for the rule of distribution. We want to pay, but we need to know to whom and in what amount. For that, we need the distribution rule,” he said.
Public or private funds?
Due to gaps in the legislation, the issue has raised confusion and disagreement. 'Bets' argue that the funds are of a private nature, while representatives from the Ministry of Sports and the National Federation of Professional Football Players (Fenapaf) claim the money is public.
There is also no consensus among athletes regarding who should benefit and how the funds should be distributed. Fenapaf President Jorge Borçato advocates priority for football and has offered the federation to act as the distributor of the funds. According to him, the adjustment should be made through a bill in Congress.
“More than 50% of bets are directly linked to the athlete — a yellow card, a goal scored. That’s our argument: that the athlete should receive a larger share. I’d like the division to come directly from the Legislative Branch,” said Borçato.
Meanwhile, three-time Olympic judo medalist Rafael “Baby” Silva, Vice President of the Athletes’ Commission of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), defends a more inclusive distribution, benefiting sports that attract fewer bets. He also suggested creating a decentralized fund, similar to the Audiovisual Law Fund (Law 8,685/93).
“It would be the easiest way to pool all these funds owed to federations, clubs, and athletes in one place — and then regulate how to distribute them,” Silva said.
The proposal was supported by Paralympic medalist Verônica Hipólito, a member of the Athletes’ Council of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB).
Sports lawyer Leonardo Costa suggested creating an entity similar to ECAD (Central Office for Collection and Distribution), which manages artists’ copyright royalties.
'Bets' advocate that distribution rules be defined by sports federations before each competition, but athletes have complained about their lack of decision-making power in these bodies. The Ministry of Sports has tried to resolve the deadlock through public consultations and ordinances, but without success.
Patrick Corrêa, National Secretary for Football and Fan Rights, said the government is evaluating other solutions, such as a draft bill to ensure athletes’ rights and the overturning of pending vetoes related to the General Sports Law (Law 14,597/23).
Laura Carneiro, President of the Sports Committee, called for consensus to reach a solution: “We’re here today precisely to hear different perspectives, and then the committee will decide how to proceed — whether through a bill amending existing legislation or through new legislation.”
The hearing was organized by Deputy Caio Vianna, President of the Permanent Subcommittee on Sports Betting Regulation.
Source: Agência Câmara de Notícias
