Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has welcomed the approval of the Security PEC by the Chamber of Deputies, highlighting the role that betting sector revenue could play in funding public safety initiatives.
The constitutional amendment, approved earlier this week by lawmakers, introduces changes aimed at strengthening coordination between federal, state and municipal security institutions.
In a statement, Lula thanked Chamber President Hugo Motta and lawmakers for supporting the proposal.
“I thank President Hugo Motta and all the leaders and parliamentarians who contributed to this achievement,” Lula said, adding that the measure helps prepare Brazil to combat organized crime more effectively.
The proposal establishes constitutional recognition of the Unified Public Security System, which aims to improve cooperation between different levels of Government in areas such as prevention, investigation and criminal enforcement.
Among the financial measures included in the amendment is the allocation of part of the tax revenue generated by sports betting to the National Public Security Fund.
Under the proposal, 30% of the revenue collected from the taxation of fixed-odds betting will be directed to the fund.
The allocation will be calculated after several deductions, including prize payments to players, income tax collected on winnings and certain operational costs related to betting operations.
The idea of using betting-related revenue to fund security initiatives had previously been discussed in the Anti-Faction bill approved by the Chamber last week but was removed before the vote. The funding mechanism was later incorporated into the Security PEC.
The proposal must now be analyzed by the Senate before it can be formally enacted.
Lula has recently criticized the rapid expansion of online betting platforms, warning that they could harm Brazilian families
