Brazilian government could establish Sports Integrity Committee

Brazilian authorities continue discussing the regulation of sports betting, this time within the framework of the Sports Integrity Meeting, where they evaluated the creation of a Sports Integrity Committee that includes athletes, officials, clubs, federations, companies, the Sports Secretary's Office, and the Ministry of Justice.

The committee would sort out priorities and formulate the final sports betting rules to be submitted to President Jair Bolsonaro. One of the names suggested for the team was Emanuel Rêgo, Secretary of High-Performance Sports. The idea is being discussed with the Special Secretary on Sports, from the Citizen Ministry, Décio dos Santos Brasil.

"We are open to joining [a team] to discuss these topics. What can we say about criminalization? How can we listen to the athletes’ voice? How are we going to deal with this process and issue the final sports betting rules?," said Celso Silva, head of the project put forward by the Special Secretary's Office on Sports.

Waldir Eustáquio Marques Júnior, a Ministry of Economy official explained: “The Ministry needs to communicate with other areas, such as sports and justice, to help us solve technical issues.”

The Brazilian government is looking to formulate rules that protect operators, the regulator and especially, players. The final text is expected to be submitted to President Jair Bolsonaro by November. Six months after it is approved, the text will become effective and operators can begin offering sports wagers.