Under Farias’ bill, half of the revenue from the 24% tax rate would go towards social security and actions within public health, while the remainder would be split between sectors such as sports and culture.

In his justifications for the bill, Farias noted the huge volume of betting in Brazil, which the bill reported now sits behind just the US and the UK in terms of highest betting consumption, according to a 2023 Comscore study.

“This growing increase in bets and the number of bets is accompanied by several social and economic problems,” Farias’ bill read. “What often begins as a joke can eventually lead to gambling addiction.

“Gambling addiction, in addition to having a strong impact on the mental health of gamblers and their families, can have a significant impact on personal and family finances, leading to significant indebtedness.”