THE Sports Commission from the Chamber of Deputies seeks a solution to the impasse that prevents the transfer of R$767 million from sports betting to athletes, clubs and federations. The value corresponds to the percentage of bet revenue allocated to the payment of image rights, provided for in the Bets Law (14,790/23), in force since December 2023. The rule, however, did not define the rules for apportioning resources.
According to the legal director of the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), Pietro Lorenzoni, transfers to civil society entities and Olympic committees are being made regularly through the National Apportionment Office. He explained that the amount of R$767 million is reserved, just awaiting the definition of the rules for distribution.
“This money is separated into an account waiting to receive the apportionment rule. We want to pay, but we need to know to whom and in what amount. For that, we need this apportionment rule”, he said.
Public or private money?
The uncertainty regarding the nature of money, whether public or private, has hampered negotiations. While bets argue that the resources are private, representatives of the Ministry of Sports and the National Federation of Professional Football Athletes (Fenapaf) consider that it is public funding. The president of Fenapaf, Jorge Borçato, demands priority for football and proposes that the topic be defined by bill.
On the other hand, judoka and three-time Olympic champion Rafael Silva, “Baby”, and paralympic athlete Verônica Hipólito defended a wider distribution, covering modalities with less visibility. Rafael suggested the creation of a decentralized fund, inspired by the Audiovisual Law, while lawyer Leonardo Costa proposed a model similar to Ecad, responsible for collecting and distributing copyrights.
The Ministry of Sports has already tried to resolve the impasse through public consultation and ordinance, without success. The national football secretary, Patrick Corrêa, informed that the ministry is considering presenting a draft bill to regulate the distribution and guarantee the rights of athletes.
The president of the Sports Commission, deputy Laura Carneiro (PSD-RJ), demanded consensus between the sectors.
“Today we are here precisely to listen to opinions and then the commission will decide how to do it, whether through a bill to modify existing legislation or new legislation.” The hearing was organized by deputy Caio Vianna (PSD-RJ), president of the Permanent Subcommittee for Sports Betting Regulation.
Fonte Gaming365 – Brasil
