The Government of Piauí has issued a decree regulating the management and allocation of funds derived from fixed-odds betting, marking a further step in the implementation of Brazil’s regulated betting framework at state level.
Under the new rules, 0.70% of betting revenue allocated to states will be directed to sports policy initiatives, in line with federal legislation.
In Piauí, these funds will be managed by the State Secretariat for Sports (SECEPI) through a dedicated account and must be used exclusively for sport-related programs.
The decree introduces specific governance requirements for the use of these resources. SECEPI will be responsible for developing a formal application plan outlining objectives, actions and execution timelines.
All expenditures must comply with public budgeting rules, while unused funds are to be held in federal public securities to preserve value and ensure financial security.
Transparency is also a central component of the framework.
Authorities are required to disclose revenues, expenditures and investment returns through the state’s Transparency Portal, enabling public oversight and accountability.
A recent case in Piauí also drew attention to oversight challenges in the sector, after authorities investigated a suspected irregular prize scheme operating across the state and neighbouring regions, in which about $163,505 were moved, raising further questions around compliance and the use of betting-related structures.
The allocation to sports mirrors national trends, where betting revenues have increasingly been positioned as a funding source for social and development programs.
Also in Brazil’s Northeast, the State Lottery of Paraíba has recently warned about the spread of unauthorised betting terminals in commercial venues
