Introduction to Brazil’s Gaming Legislation
Brazil has recently witnessed a historic moment in its gambling industry with the enactment of new laws governing sports betting and internet casinos. This development came after debates and legislative maneuvers in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Despite initial skepticism about a successful vote before February, the Chamber of Deputies approved the legislation last Thursday, marking a significant turn in Brazil’s approach to online gambling.
IBIA’s Role and Reaction
The International Betting and Integrity Association (IBIA) has been a vocal supporter of this legislative development. They have emphasized the importance of implementing robust mechanisms to protect operators, customers, and sports from potential fraud and manipulation.
Khalid Ali, CEO of the IBIA, expressed his organization’s commitment to ensuring betting integrity, stating, “This is a historic moment for sports betting in Brazil and is a major step forward in the fight against match-fixing.”
He highlighted the adoption of specific betting integrity provisions in the law, which the IBIA had been campaigning for since discussions began in 2018. Ali also noted the positive message this sends to other markets in Latin America about the necessity of a regulated sports betting framework with strong integrity provisions.
The Legislative Process and Final Approval
Journey Through the Legislative Chambers
The bill, numbered 3626/23, faced a challenging journey through Brazil’s legislative process. It was initially approved by the Chamber of Deputies in September, with further amendments made by the Senate. Senator Angelo Coronel presented the bill with these amendments on December 12. Despite significant opposition, the Senate passed the bill with three key highlights: excluding igaming, virtual games, and sports betting terminals from the legislation, and approving all taxation recommendations introduced by the Economic Affairs Commission.
Taxation and Regulations
The approved bill sets the Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) tax limit at 12% and modifies the taxation on winnings. Bettors will be taxed once a year at a rate of 15% on net winnings above a certain threshold. Licensees must pay an initial fee for the right to operate multiple brands. The bill also demands operators to have a Brazilian partner holding at least 20% of the company’s capital in the country. It mandates strict cybersecurity and identification processes, including the potential use of facial recognition technology.
The Debate and Final Approval
The final approval by the Chamber of Deputies came after a heated debate, with Deputy Eli Borges expressing concerns about the societal impact of gambling. However, Arthur Lira, the president of the Chamber, countered these concerns by emphasizing the need for regulation to prevent uncontrolled online gambling and associated risks like money laundering. The Chamber’s decision to retain igaming in the bill was pivotal, as its exclusion would have significantly reduced projected taxation revenue.
What’s Next for Online Gambling in Brazil
The approval of this legislation is a landmark in Brazil’s gambling history. It opens the door for a regulated online gambling market in 2024 and sets the stage for Brazil to achieve its zero fiscal deficit target. This sector’s tax revenues and licensing fees are expected to contribute significantly to various public sectors, including sports, tourism, public safety, education, and social security. As the world watches, Brazil’s journey in regulating online gambling sets a precedent for other countries grappling with similar challenges, especially in Latin America.
Delaware’s recent launch of online sports betting through the BetRivers Sportsbook marks a significant evolution in the state’s approach to sports wagering. This move places Delaware among the 29 states in the U.S. that have legalized online sports betting, reflecting a nationwide trend toward digital gaming platforms. Players will now be able to wager on football, soccer, basketball, and all other major sporting events in real-time.
Before this development, Delaware had a unique standing in the U.S. sports betting landscape. It was one of the first states, alongside Nevada, to offer full-scale, single-game sports betting following the 2018 repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This historical context is crucial in understanding Delaware’s journey in the betting world.
The Role of Delaware Lottery and Economic Impacts
The Delaware Lottery has been instrumental in this transition. It oversees all sports betting operations within the state, both retail and online. The switch from 888 Holdings to Rush Street Gaming’s BetRivers as the state’s iGaming partner indicates a strategic shift in Delaware’s betting industry. This move broadens the scope of betting options available to residents and significantly contributes to the state’s economy. The Delaware General Fund benefits from the revenue generated, and a portion of the earnings is allocated to the state’s horse racing industry and other vendor fees.
Accessibility and Regulatory Framework
Delaware has established specific legal and accessibility requirements for its online betting platforms. Players must be 21 or older and physically located within the state’s boundaries, a requirement ensured through device location technology. The availability of the BetRivers mobile app on major platforms like Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store facilitates easy access for residents, a crucial factor in the success of these online platforms.
Delaware’s Position in the Regional Betting Landscape
As Delaware ventures into online sports betting and iGaming, it faces competition from neighboring states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which have already established a strong presence in the online betting market. The five-year contract with Rush Street Interactive, with potential for extensions, is a testament to Delaware’s commitment to growing and adapting its sports betting infrastructure.
The Future of Online Betting in Delaware
Looking ahead, Delaware’s adoption of online sports betting and iGaming is a pivotal step in its gambling industry. This transition opens new revenue streams and aligns with the broader digitalization trend in the betting world. As the state adapts to these changes and embraces the potential of online platforms, it will be interesting to watch how Delaware positions itself competitively in the increasingly dynamic U.S. betting market.
Delaware’s move to online sports betting and iGaming represents a significant shift in its approach to gambling, offering modern and accessible betting experiences to its residents. This transition demonstrates the state’s adaptability to changing times and signifies its potential to become a significant player in the national betting arena.
American Hans Niemann stunned Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen at the popular Sinquefield Cup in September 2022. It was a big win for the 20 year old who beat the number one ranked player in the world for nearly a decade.
His win lost a lot of its shine after Carlsen withdrew from the tournament claiming that Niemann had cheated. Chess.com backed those claims by stating that it was likely that Niemann had cheated over 100 times in online chess games on their platform. Those claims spread like wildfire in the chess community given that Niemann had earlier admitted he did cheat when he was 12 and 16 years old respectively.
However, Niemann refuted all cheating allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against Chess.com, Magnus Carlsen for $100 million in Oct 2022. That lawsuit was dismissed by a judge in June 2023.
Out Of Court Settlement
Earlier this week, Chess.com announced that all parties settled their differences outside court and confirmed that they did not find any clear evidence to suggest that Niemann had cheated in in-person games while Carlsen released a statement acknowledging that there was no evidence from Chess.com’s investigation that Niemann had cheated Carlsen when he won against him at the Sinquefield Cup. Carlsen confirmed that he will be willing to play Niemann in future tournaments.
The UFC returns once again to the O2 Arena in London, England on July 22 with another fantastic card that is stacked with UK fighters. The Main Event will be a heavyweight showdown as Brit Tom Aspinall takes on Marcin Tybura from Poland. The co-Main Event will see Molly McCann fight Julija Stoliarenko!
Can Aspinall Make Up For 2022 Disappointment?
Almost exactly a year ago (July 23, 2022), Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes served as the Main Event at the O2 Arena but it turned out to be a big disappointed for the fans and Aspinall.
Aspinall suffered a leg injury and the fight was called off after just 15 seconds. Aspinall has vowed to make it up to the fans and gets the chance to do so when he takes on Tybura in a 5 round Main Event
Some of the other top UK fighters featuring on this card include Scotland’s Paul Craig, Marc Diakiese, Nathaniel Wood, Danny Roberts, Davey Grant and Jai Herbert. One big name that is missing on this card is Paddy ‘the Baddy’ Pimblett who is still recovering from an injury!
England played brilliantly in the third Ashes test and secured a win to keep the 5 match test series alive. Australia are still in front with a 2-1 lead but England will go into the 4th test with the momentum on their side.
The 4th Ashes test will take place in Manchester from 19 to 23 July and both sides will be under a lot of pressure. Australia needs to win to take the Ashes home while England need to win to make it 2-2 and make the 5th test a series decider.
Will England Make Changes To Their Squad?
England made two changes to their squad for the third test by bringing in Mark Wood and Chris Woakes as those two changes made all the difference. Wood and Woakes were brilliant for England throughout the test match and fittingly were at the crease to help England get over the line.
England will most likely look to retain the same squad as they go into the 4th test but could end up making a change or two depending on the pitch and weather conditions. Australia will wait on the fitness of Nathan Lyon and Cameron Green for the fourth test!