Brazil's Long Wait for President of Bets and Prizes Secretariat Continues

Brazil's Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, faces mounting pressure to name a president for the Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) or Secretariat of Bets and Prizes. This appointment is crucial for the anticipated launch of the country's federal sports betting marketplace.

Last month, plans for a Special Secretariat responsible for overseeing gambling activities were finalized. The SPA, operating within the Ministry of Finance, aims to regulate the fixed-odds betting market and online games, alongside managing lotteries and commercial promotions. However, the appointment of a president remains pending, frustrating Congress members awaiting the launch schedule.

Initially expected to lead SPA, José Francisco Manssur's sudden resignation altered predictions. His departure followed clashes with Centrão, a powerful Congress block critical of tax measures related to the Bets regime. While Senator Rogério Carvalho nominated himself, favoring tighter control over tax allocations, advisor Marcos Barbosa Pinto remains a likely choice for Haddad, given his ties to the PT government's economic reforms.

Brazil introduced a 15% tax on online betting last April, further complicating the delayed launch of the Bets regime.