The federal government may collect about R$ 8 billion in the coming months from the payment of grants for the authorization to operate betting houses in Brazil. As of last Friday (25/10), 261 sports betting and online gaming companies have requested permission to operate up to three platforms each in the country for the next five years.
According to information from the Ministry of Finance, each company will need to pay a grant of R$ 30 million to operate in Brazil, following new rules approved by Congress, which include measures to combat fraud, money laundering, and abusive advertising.
Since May, the ministry has been receiving requests from companies. Just last Friday, seven new applications were filed.
Starting January 1st of next year, all companies that do not obtain authorization may be penalized. Authorized companies must operate with domains ending in “bet.br”.
Even before this deadline, the Lula government is considering adopting measures to prevent the use of Bolsa Família money in sports betting.
A study by the Central Bank revealed that, in August alone, 5 million beneficiaries of the social program spent R$ 3 billion on betting, facing situations of economic vulnerability and food insecurity.
“If the regulation works, the problem will be solved. Otherwise, I will end the activities, to be clear,” said the president in an interview on the 17th.
Source: Metrópoles
