Deputies approve creation of Federal University of Sport in Brazil
The new institution, named UFEsporte, will be headquartered in Brasília and will focus on excellence training for public policy management and high-performance coaching. A key fact for the industry is that part of its budget may come directly from sports betting revenue.
The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies has given the green light to Bill 6133/25, which formalizes the creation of the Federal University of Sport (UFEsporte). The proposal, promoted by the Executive Branch, seeks to address a historical debt in the technical and scientific training of professionals dedicated to the national sports ecosystem. The project now heads to the Senate for final review.
The role of betting in funding
One of the most relevant points for the iGaming sector is the revenue structure of the new autonomous entity. In addition to Treasury resources and international agreements, the approved text establishes that the Ministry of Sport may redirect part of the revenue from betting for the university's operation.
This measure reinforces the trend of using taxes from regulated gambling to strengthen social and educational pillars, ensuring funds for scientific research applied to sports and entity management.
Strategic objectives of UFEsporte
The university will operate under the principle of integration between teaching, research, and outreach. Its main objectives include:
- Excellence Management: Training qualified human resources to manage public policies and sports organizations.
- High Performance: Encouraging scientific production applied to the training of professional athletes.
- Inclusion and Equity: Promoting the development of women's sports and ensuring accessibility for parasports.
- Career Transition: Offering academic training to high-performance athletes to secure their professional future after competitive retirement.
A debate on implementation
The project's rapporteur, Congressman Julio Cesar Ribeiro, defended the need for UFEsporte, pointing out that Brazil, despite its natural talent, lacks qualified managers in sports science. For his part, government leader José Guimarães stressed that this is a long-standing demand from athletes themselves.
From the opposition, criticisms arose regarding budgetary viability. Some legislators called the measure "populist," arguing that the government should prioritize maintaining existing universities before creating a new structure. However, the project's proponents are betting that the university will be included in the Budget Guidelines Law (LDO) for 2026 and 2027 to ensure its financial autonomy.
Tags: Brazil, Brazil Sports University, Brazil gambling regulation, UFEsporte