Appeal by senators brings to the plenary session a bill that increases taxation on betting and fintechs.
Senator Carlos Portinho (PL-RJ) presented Appeal No. 10/2025 to the Federal Senate early Monday evening (9), requesting that Bill 5473/25 be analyzed by the House Plenary. The bill, which deals with changes in the taxation of fintechs and fixed-odds betting, had been approved definitively by the Committee on Economic Affairs (CAE). The appeal seeks to broaden discussions on the proposal which, according to the parliamentarian, has fiscal and social relevance.
Bill 5473/2025, authored by Senator Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL), "amends Law No. 7.689, of December 15, 1988, and Law No. 13.756, of December 12, 2018, to provide, respectively, for rates of the Social Contribution on Net Profit (CSLL) in relation to fintechs and for increasing government participation in the net revenue from fixed-odds betting; and establishes the Tax Regularization Program for Low-Income Individuals (Pert-Baixa Renda)."
In the justification, the PL leader highlights that the project addresses three distinct aspects: the revision of the taxation of fixed-odds betting, the equalization of CSLL rates for fintechs, and adjustments to Law No. 9.250/1995, recently modified by Law No. 15.270/2024.
The senator points out that the high number of amendments submitted to the bill – 185 in total – indicates the need for a more detailed analysis. A large portion of these proposals were filed close to the date of the committee's deliberation.
Portinho states that the text approved in the CAE needs improvements through plenary amendments. This would allow for an assessment of whether the proposed increase in betting taxes will achieve the expected results or if it would be necessary to expand taxation.
The Senate's CAE approved, on Tuesday (2), with 23 votes in favor and one against, from Senator Wilder Morais, a report that establishes a phased taxation for the fixed-odds betting sector in Brazil. The text, reported by Senator Eduardo Braga (MDB-AM), amends PL 5473/25 and defines a gradual increase in the Contribution on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR). The rate will increase from the current 12% to 15% in 2026 and 2027, reaching 18% from 2028 onwards.
The document mentions that the current regulatory and tax structure makes it more advantageous to establish a betting platform in Brazil than a fintech company focused on increasing competition in the financial market. To support the importance of fintechs, the document cites studies by the IMF and other institutions that demonstrate how these companies increase banking competition and contribute to lower interest rates.
The initiative has the support of several parliamentarians, including Carlos Portinho; Eduardo Girão; Cleitinho; Plínio Valério; Jorge Seif; Astronaut Marcos Pontes; Izalci Lucas; Sergio Moro; Hamilton Mourão; Rogerio Marinho; Luis Carlos Heinze; Esperidião Amin; Damares Alves; Jaime Bagattoli; Dr. Hiran; Wilder Morais; Eduardo Gomes; Wellington Fagundes and Flávio Bolsonaro.
The signatories argue that consideration by the full Senate will allow the participation of all senators, ensuring a more representative deliberation on the proposed changes to the bill.
Proposal should be postponed until 2026.
With the presentation of the appeal by 19 opposition senators, eight signatures were needed, and now the proposal will have to be reviewed and voted on by the Senate plenary before the text goes to the Chamber of Deputies for analysis. This new procedure jeopardizes the government's plans, as there are only two plenary sessions left before the parliamentary recess.
The government has been working with the presidents of the Chamber and the Senate since last week to expedite the voting on this proposal. On Monday (8), the presidents of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), and the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), met at the official residence of the Chamber with ministers of the Lula government to discuss priority economic agendas before the end of the legislative year.
The gaming and betting sector has expressed its opposition to the tax adjustment. The National Association of Games and Lotteries and the Brazilian Institute of Legal Gaming have presented studies indicating that countries with more moderate tax rates register greater adherence to the legal system, while nations with high tax burdens face significant percentages of bets placed on unlicensed websites.
