Statement on Remarks by the Chief Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic

Statement on Remarks by the Chief Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic

The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) rejects the statements made by Guilherme Boulos, Chief Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, which associate the betting market with criminal activities. Such claims are serious, unfounded, and ignore the fact that the regulated sector operates with full transparency under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, and the Ministry of Sports.

Licensed companies have already invested R$30 million in concession fees and paid R$6.85 billion in taxes between January and September 2025, according to official data from the Federal Revenue Service. Each operation is traceable and linked to a taxpayer ID (CPF) validated through facial recognition and a bank account under the same name, following international standards of compliance, integrity, and auditing.

The minister’s statements show disregard for thousands of professionals and distort reality precisely when the focus should be on tackling the illegal market, which moves around R$38 billion per year and causes an estimated loss of R$10.8 billion in tax revenue, according to a study by LCA Economic Consulting.

The IBJR reaffirms its commitment to maintaining an honest, responsible, and secure betting environment that generates jobs, investment, and revenue for Brazil. The real challenge lies in combating illegal platforms — not in defaming those who operate within the law.