Brazil's Senate to vote on landmark sports betting regulations to combat corruption

Brazil's Senate Inquiry Commission (CPI) is scheduled to vote on March 19 on a wide-ranging set of anti-corruption initiatives designed to combat match-fixing and illicit gambling within the nation's sports sector.

The final report, spearheaded by former football star Senator Romário, identifies a troubling pattern in recent sports scandals. In his findings, Romário highlighted that the CPI investigation had revealed that practically all recent scandals involving match-fixing were related to bets on isolated events, especially those involving renowned athletes.

The commission's investigation revealed that so-called "micro-betting" on isolated events—such as yellow cards, corner kicks, or other minor occurrences during games—creates vulnerabilities that can be exploited by criminal organizations without necessarily affecting match outcomes.

To address these concerns, the CPI has drafted a constitutional amendment and three separate bills that would dramatically reshape Brazil's approach to sports betting integrity:

The first bill substantially increases penalties for sports fraud, establishing prison sentences of four to ten years plus fines for those convicted of manipulating sporting events. It also criminalizes betting market fraud and punishes athletes who share privileged information.

A second bill requires betting operators to display mandatory warnings about gambling risks and addiction.

The third proposed legislation aims to restrict or ban betting on isolated events during competitions—directly targeting the micro-betting practices identified as particularly susceptible to manipulation.

The constitutional amendment would give teeth to future investigations by making it mandatory for citizens to appear before parliamentary inquiries when summoned, with provisions for police enforcement if necessary.

Senator Jorge Kajuru, who co-led the investigation alongside Romário, supports the creation of a public registry listing individuals convicted of match-fixing offenses to prevent repeat violations and increase transparency.

The commission's findings and recommendations will be shared with the Federal Police, Public Prosecutor's Office, and relevant government ministries including Finance, Justice, Sports, and Health—allowing each department to implement specific measures within their jurisdictions.

If approved, these measures would represent the most significant regulatory overhaul of Brazil's sports betting industry to date, with far-reaching implications for athletes, betting operators, and sports organizations throughout the country.