Brazil: 22% betting tax proposed for environmental protection
Last Tuesday, September 2, Congressman Vitor presented a new bill in Brazil proposing to increase the tax on betting to 22%. This initiative arises in a context where the country, recognized for hosting the greatest biodiversity on the planet, faces serious challenges in the fight against illegal deforestation and the protection of its natural resources. In the bill’s justification, Vitor highlighted the urgency of financially strengthening environmental agencies, such as the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).
According to the congressman, "our country hosts the greatest biodiversity on the planet and has faced the challenge of combating illegal deforestation. Besides the lack of personnel, there is also a shortage of resources for enforcement. It is extremely urgent to increase financial contributions to environmental agencies, such as Ibama and ICMBio, in order to protect our forests, rivers, and ultimately, the well-being of all society."
The bill details that the additional 10% tax on betting would be distributed as follows: 2.5% would be allocated to payments for environmental services, another 2.5% to projects for the recovery of degraded areas, and the remaining 5% to cover the expenses of programs fighting forest fires and combating illegal deforestation in the Amazon. Currently, the federal government has already presented a provisional measure (MP) that raises the tax on betting to 18% of the GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue).
This measure is being debated in a joint congressional committee composed of deputies and senators. If approved by the Legislature, the new 18% rate would take effect starting October 1. Vitor’s proposal, which can be consulted in full on the official Chamber of Deputies portal, awaits the start of its legislative process. If approved, the betting tax in Brazil would reach 22%, with a clear focus on financing environmental actions and protecting the Amazon, at a critical moment for the country’s sustainability and ecological future.
Tags: Brazil, online betting, bill draft, taxes