Brazil’s Ministry of Sports publishes ordinance to regulate integrity of sports betting

On November 11, 2024, the Brazilian Ministry of Sports published Ordinance MESP No. 109 to regulate integrity measures for sports results. Given the surge in sports betting in Brazil, the new rules aim to prevent and combat the manipulation of sports results, establishing guidelines for betting operators and strengthening competition monitoring.

The ordinance provides that the Ministry of Sports may enter into partnerships with betting operators to, among other objectives, receive information about suspicions of manipulation. Through this communication channel, the betting operators can share information about violations or suspected violations of policies, rules, codes of conduct, or other mechanisms related to the integrity of betting on sports events, as well as the results of internal investigations.

Within the context of sports betting, the Ministry of Sports’ Office of Sports Betting Integrity (within the National Secretariat of Sports Betting and Economic Development for Sports) will be in charge of investigating any facts that threaten the integrity and unpredictability of sports events and results. If necessary, this office may share information about the analyzed case with other competent authorities – such as the Ministry of Finance, the Fair Play Committee, the respective Sports Justice Courts, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office – with the aim of providing information on the facts and adopting precautionary measures within their respective competencies.

Ordinance MESP No. 109 also establishes channels for members of the public to report irregularities and guarantees protections to whistleblowers, safeguarding the confidentiality and protection of their personal data. Finally, the Ministry of Sports may establish partnerships with organizations specializing in sports integrity to identify patterns and suspicious betting behavior as a means of ensuring competition integrity.

For more information on the subject, please contact Mattos Filho’s Entertainment practice area.