Brazil Senate Preserves Sports Betting Revenue Allocation

Brazilian sports organisations have secured an important victory in their campaign to protect funding linked to fixed-odds betting after the Senate's Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) removed the relevant provision from the latest version of Public Security PEC 18/2025.

The measure, which had previously been included in the version approved by the Chamber of Deputies, proposed redirecting 30% of fixed-odds betting revenue to the National Public Security Fund (FNSP) and the National Penitentiary Fund (FUNPEN). Its removal is expected to prevent an estimated R$500 million annual reduction in funding available to the country's sports sector.

Senator Rogério Carvalho (PT-SE), who prepared the latest report on the proposal, opposed the redistribution of betting proceeds. The CCJ's decision preserves the current allocation established under Law No. 13.756/2018 and avoids a substantial reduction in resources available for sports.

Carvalho argued that the proposed redistribution would have changed the existing funding structure without sufficient discussion. He also noted that public security already has access to other sources of funding.

Sports organisations have maintained that preserving the current allocation is essential for athlete development, grassroots programmes, local sporting events and the participation of Brazilian teams in international competitions.

Sports Bodies Unite to Protect Existing Funding

The Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) and the National Confederation of Clubs (FENACLUBES) led the campaign against the proposed changes, supported by several major organisations from across the Brazilian sports sector.

The mobilisation, known as “Mourning for Sport,” included financial impact assessments as well as meetings with government representatives and senior officials.

The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB), Brazilian Committee of Paralympic Clubs (CBCP), Brazilian School Sports Confederation (CBDE) and Brazilian University Sports Confederation (CBDU) also participated in the initiative.

The organisations argued that strengthening public security policy should not result in a reduction of resources already supporting sports and social programmes.

CBC and FENACLUBES Welcome CCJ Outcome

CBC president Paulo Maciel described the CCJ's decision as an important development but stressed that the legislative process is not yet complete.

“This result preserves the conditions necessary for Clubs to continue advancing sports development. There is still much to do, but the transformation of recent years is real and results from investment, infrastructure and continuity,” Maciel said.

CBC, FENACLUBES and other clubs maintained an active presence in Brasília throughout the campaign, combining technical analysis with continued discussions with policymakers.

Maciel said the organisations must now continue their efforts to ensure that the existing funding structure remains protected when the proposal reaches the Senate plenary.

Concerns Over the Impact on Brazil's Club Sector

FENACLUBES president Arialdo Boscolo also highlighted the potential consequences of reduced funding for Brazil's wider club network.

According to Boscolo, FENACLUBES represents more than 11,000 clubs that create employment, support local economies and provide activities and services to communities across the country.

“FENACLUBES brought to the debate the reality of more than 11,000 Clubs, which generate jobs, move cities and carry out important daily work for society. We acted alongside CBC and the Clubs because we understand the impact this reduction would have on the ground” Boscolo said.

He described the CCJ decision as an important achievement supported by the wider sports community but emphasised that the campaign would continue until the legislative vote is concluded.

Senate Plenary Vote Remains Ahead

The removal of Article 139 represents a significant step for Brazilian sports organisations, but the proposal has yet to complete its journey through the Senate.

Sports groups are expected to maintain pressure on lawmakers to ensure that the existing distribution of fixed-odds betting revenue remains unchanged in the final version.

The debate has also underlined the importance of betting-derived funding to Brazil's sports development system, with organisations arguing that maintaining the current allocation is necessary to support continued investment and long-term development across the sector.