SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Next week, the Senate of Brazil will review proposals made by the CPI of Integrity, a congressional inquiry, to ban instant bets and apply toughest punishment on sports corruption
Senator Romário (PL-RJ) and Senator Jorge Kajuru (PSB-GO) are ready to publish the first regulatory recommendations on the protections and integrity of the Brazil Bets market.
The recommendations form part of the Senate’s Commission of Inquiry chaired by Romário and Kajuru, who were tasked with examining the corruption and match-fixing liabilities threatening the integrity of the betting market.
Referred to as the CPI of Integrity, the senators are set to finish the investigation on Wednesday, 19 March. The duo have taken testimony from football authorities, club presidents, and members involved in former match-fixing scandals.
As such, next Wednesday the Senate will convene to read Romário and Kajuru’s report on “The Manipulation of Sports Games and Betting.” The proposed measures address structural vulnerabilities in the betting sector and focus on enhancing transparency, accountability, and legal enforcement.
Prior to the reading, Senator Romário will argue for a constitutional amendment that would make it mandatory for individuals summoned to testify before the Commission of Inquiry to appear. The measure would prevent key witnesses from evading investigation and reinforce the commission’s authority in uncovering corruption schemes.
The CPI of integrity will purpose the following determinations:
Match-fixing to carry the toughest repercussions: To deter future match-fixing scandals, the senators propose severe criminal penalties for athletes and facilitators involved in betting fraud. Athletes found guilty of participating in betting schemes could face suspension from their sport and prison sentences ranging from four to 10 years. Facilitators of such schemes would face identical penalties, in addition to financial fines.
Ban on isolated betting markets: One of the central recommendations is the prohibition of “micro-betting” — bets on isolated-or-instant betting markets such as yellow and red cards, corner kicks, and other minor in-game occurrences.
The investigation noted the fallout of the Lucas Paquetá scandal, which highlighted how easily micro-events can be manipulated and underscored the need for this measure. According to the report, eliminating micro-betting would protect the integrity of the sport and reduce opportunities for corruption.
Advertising must feature civic warnings: The CPI recommends that sports betting operators be required to display prominent warnings about the risks of gambling. Betting platforms would need to provide clear messaging about the potential harm of gambling and promote responsible gaming practices.
Data surveillance: Deemed as a necessary measure to increase regulation of sports data to prevent unauthorised access and data manipulation, which can fuel insider betting. Receita Federal, the Federal Revenue Service of Brazil, and other regulatory bodies would be tasked with overseeing data collection of Bets licensed operators and suppliers.
Mandatory cooperation between sports and law enforcement: The senators recommend creating a permanent investigative unit tasked with monitoring suspicious betting patterns and investigating allegations of match-fixing. This unit would operate under the Federal Police (PF) and would work closely with sports governing bodies to identify and address potential threats to sporting integrity.
A public blacklist of offenders: Finally, the CPI proposes establishing a public registry of individuals and entities found guilty of match-fixing and betting fraud. This measure would serve as both a deterrent and a tool for transparency, enabling stakeholders to monitor and prevent future breaches of integrity.
Bets changes are in the hands of the Senate
Following the presentation of the report, the Federal Police (PF) will conduct further investigations into specific allegations and recommendations. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Sports will also receive copies of the report to assess the financial and regulatory implications.
The CPI of Integrity marks a significant step towards cleaning up the Brazilian betting market and protecting the sport’s credibility. Senators Romário and Kajuru have signalled that they will push for the rapid implementation of these measures, emphasising that decisive action is necessary to restore public trust in the sporting and betting sectors.
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