Brazil’s Senate urged to ban instant bets and blacklist match-fixing offenders

Brazil’s Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) on match-fixing in sports betting is pushing the Senate to ban instant bets and create an integrity blacklist, which would keep anyone involved in match-fixing from working in the sports industry.

The final report, put together by Senator Romário, is set to be presented and voted on this Wednesday (Mar. 19) at 2:30 pm (local time). It takes a deep dive into the biggest weaknesses in Brazil’s sports betting market, especially isolated event betting, which makes it easy to manipulate games without changing the final score.

According to political news outlet Congresso em Foco, Senator Romário said: “This CPI has demonstrated that nearly all recent match-fixing scandals were related to bets on isolated events, especially those involving well-known athletes.”

The report advocates for banning instant bets, arguing that wagers on specific in-game moments create a high risk of manipulation without affecting the final match result. It also calls for the indictment of Bruno Tolentino, uncle of player Lucas Paqueta, who plays in the English Premier League, for match-fixing.

The CPI also recommends the creation of an integrity blacklist, which would bar individuals found guilty of match-fixing from working in professional sports, betting companies, and related industries.

The commission is also calling for a constitutional amendment and three bills (PLs) to strengthen regulation and penalties against match-fixing.

The amendment would make it mandatory for any citizen to testify before a CPI, even with police enforcement if necessary. The proposal follows the Supreme Federal Court’s (STF) ruling that allowed influencer Deolane Bezerra to avoid testifying before the Sports Betting CPI.

The three bills include prison sentences of four to ten years and additional fines for sports and betting fraud, including the use of inside information by athletes, and they also punish false advertising of betting profits.

Betting operators would be required to display messages discouraging gambling and warning users about the risks of addiction. The third bill proposes banning instant bets on specific in-game events, which have been at the center of recent match-fixing scandals.

After the report is presented, the Federal Police (PF) will further investigate the allegations and recommendations. The finance and sports ministries will also receive copies to assess the regulatory and financial implications.

The CPI was set up in April 2024, with Senator Jorge Kajuru taking the role of president. The commission’s main goal is to dig into allegations and suspicions of match-fixing in Brazilian football, looking at the involvement of players, team officials, and betting companies.

Featured image: José Cru / Agência Brasil via WikiCommons 3.0

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