The senator Eduardo Braga (MDB-AM) stated that it will not discuss increasing taxes on bets until the government adopts effective measures to combat the illegal market. Rapporteur of the project that proposes increasing taxation on the gross income of these platforms from 12% to 24%, he said, in an interview with The Globethat clandestine websites generate around R$100 billion per year in the country.
Braga warned that the vote on the text could be postponed if the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank do not present mechanisms to block suspicious transactions via Pix. According to him, there is an “inspection vacuum” that favors illegal betting, unregulated fintechs and organized crime.
“It doesn’t make sense to increase from 12% to 24% for those who are legal if it doesn’t close the door on illegality. If not, it will only increase illegality”, said the senator.
The project’s rapporteur stated that the government must first close the door on illegal fintechs and clandestine payment method companies, which are the entry and exit points for money from illegal bets in the country. Braga also defended a progressive tax increase model, combined with the fight against the illegal betting market. According to the senator, this would cause the migration of bettors to the legal market, ensuring greater profitability.
The parliamentarian reported that he demanded action directly from the president of the Central Bank, Gabriel Galípolo, and cited data from the Federal Revenue that shows movements of R$50 billion by irregular betting companies and fintechs. He defends the tracking of Pix keys with atypical movements and the strengthening of digital supervision.
Although he defends harsher punishments for the sector, Braga said he has no objection to the departure of companies that do not accept the new rules. “If they stop operating in the country it would be the most wonderful thing in the world. The tragedy these bets are causing is a horror”, he stated, mentioning cases of debt and even suicide related to betting addiction.
The project rapporteur’s speech follows the same line as that of the former president of the Chamber, deputy Arthur Lira (PP-AL), which defended, last Tuesday (11), the fight against illegal betting shops before increasing the taxation of bets operating in the Brazilian regulated market.
“Bets are inevitable. There’s no point in the government saying: ‘I’m going to put an end to bets’. Citizens will play irregularly, illegally, abroad. So I think the first step is for the government to go after illegal bets, which don’t collect, which launder money with fintechs”, defended Lira.
About the project
Bill 5,473/2025, which increases taxation on bets and fintechs, was presented by the senator Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL) on October 29th. The text determines that the additional 12 percentage points charged to betting operators be allocated to the Union’s social security, but provides that part or all of this collection, between 2026 and 2028, can be transferred to states, the Federal District and municipalities.
Currently, Law No. 14,790/2023 determines that 88% of gross betting revenue remains with platform operators, while 12% goes to social destinations. Calheiros’ project proposes changing this division, expanding the portion allocated to public collection.
Other points of the bill
In addition to bets, the text also increases the Social Contribution on Net Profit (CSLL) charged to companies in the financial system. The rate would go from 9% to 15% for banks, over-the-counter market administrators and stock exchanges; and from 15% to 20% in the case of fintechs.
The proposal also creates the Tax Regularization Program for Low-Income Individuals (Pert-Low Income). The project was forwarded to the Economic Affairs Committee (CAE) and is being reported by Senator Eduardo Braga (MDB-AM).
Fonte: Gaming365 – Brasil
