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Giovanni Rocco, National Secretary of Sports Betting and Economic Development at Brazil’s Ministry of Sports, outlined the country’s regulatory achievements and ongoing challenges during an interview at BiS Brasília, highlighting concerns about inflated sponsorship values and the government’s strategy to combat match manipulation.
The regulation of sports betting in Brazil represents a major shift in oversight for a sector that previously operated without formal controls. According to Rocco, solid regulations took effect in January 2025, establishing a framework that has drawn international recognition.
Regulatory Framework and Market Control
"The main achievement was controlling this market, which had been operating outside of regulation. The previous government did not regulate this economic activity," Rocco stated during the interview with Poder360.
Brazil’s regulatory structure divides oversight responsibilities between the Ministries of Finance and Sports. This dual-ministry approach provides the government with tools to authorize different betting categories and implement measures against match-fixing.
Rocco noted that Brazil’s framework has been recognized internationally as among the most comprehensive in the global betting industry. The country now maintains active authorization processes and enforcement mechanisms that were absent before 2025.
Sponsorship Inflation and Club Dependency
The presence of betting operators in Brazilian football has grown substantially, with nearly all clubs in Serie A and Serie B now holding master sponsorship agreements with betting companies. This shift has created both opportunities and vulnerabilities for professional football clubs.
"Sportsbooks have used sports to enter people’s lives," Rocco observed, noting the sector’s strategic approach to brand visibility through sports partnerships.
The secretary expressed concern about what he characterizes as inflated sponsorship values, estimating that current rates may be five times higher than market fundamentals would suggest. While increased revenue has supported improvements in football quality and club operations, it has also created financial dependency that poses risks to long-term sustainability.
"I estimate that these sponsorship values are inflated at least 5 times. There is a good side and a bad side," Rocco said. "We are concerned about this inflation and the return that this has to have, especially for the youth categories."
The ministry is particularly focused on how betting revenue can support grassroots development and address income disparities among players. Rocco noted that 90% of Brazilian football players earn up to one minimum wage, underscoring the need for structured support systems.
"There’s no point in showing the right path if the athlete doesn’t have the structure to make decisions and develop as an athlete," Rocco stated. "The resource from betting taxation needs to be applied to public policies aimed at athletes."
National Policy Against Match-Fixing
Protecting competitive integrity remains a central priority for Brazil’s sports betting oversight. The government has developed a multi-agency approach to detect and prevent match manipulation, involving the Ministries of Sports, Treasury, and Justice.
"The most valuable thing about sport is the unpredictability and the integrity of that unpredictability of the result," Rocco emphasized.
The strategy relies on early detection of suspicious betting patterns, with licensed operators required to report unusual activity to government authorities within five days. This reporting obligation creates a frontline detection system for potential manipulation attempts.
"Companies are required to inform the government of these findings within five days. It is their obligation to do so," Rocco explained.
The government established a working group that includes the Federal Police and multiple ministry departments to coordinate anti-manipulation efforts. This cross-agency collaboration aims to create comprehensive investigative capabilities and enforcement mechanisms.
International Cooperation and Technology Investment
Brazil is positioning itself as a regional leader in match-fixing prevention through international partnerships and technological development. The country is preparing to join the Macolin Convention, a European agreement focused on combating sports competition manipulation, with a congressional vote scheduled for December 2025.
"Brazil is the first country in Latin America to join the convention. This crime of manipulation is transnational and transnational. There are many matches being manipulated here in Brazil, with manipulators outside the country, and vice versa," Rocco stated.
The ministry is also developing proprietary data analysis systems to improve fraud detection capabilities. These systems will cross-reference information from multiple sources to identify suspicious patterns more efficiently.
"All mature, regulated markets have their own system that scrapes data from betting houses. It’s another mechanism for capturing evidence to initiate investigations," Rocco concluded.
The technology investment reflects Brazil’s commitment to maintaining regulatory standards comparable to established international markets while addressing the specific challenges of Latin America’s betting landscape.
Source: Poder360
