A number of sports were approved for fixed-odds sports betting in Brazil, less than 24 hours before the markets opened after being made legal.
This comes after the South American country has officially allowed licensed gambling operators to accept online sports betting and casino wagers following a six year process of legalization.
The full launch took place on New Years Day (January 1) with a total of 68 licenses approved.
As for the sports that are now eligible to be bet on, these are vast and include football, basketball, boxing, baseball, hockey, cricket, tennis, and surfing. More unique sports are included too like skateboarding, diving, sailing, skiing, equestrianism, and a number of martial arts, amongst others.
The list has been published in an ordinance and states how the sports include those recognized by international organizations such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Committee on Sports for the Deaf (ICSD).
In a press release by the Ministry of Sports, the minister André Fufuca said: “With this measure, we advance in the organization of the sports betting market, promoting transparency, legal certainty and greater control of the modalities involved.
“This strengthens the sport as a whole and protects our athletes and sports entities.”
Sports betting in Brazil has officially opened, with an exhaustive list
The Government-issued news article also shares the goal of the department: “The goal is to ensure a comprehensive approach that includes as many sports modalities as possible, preventing bettors from resorting to illegal platforms in the clandestine market.”
It was in September when Brazil appointed its first National Secretary of Sports Betting for the Economic Development of Sport.
Giovanni Rocco Neto was elected by the government and in the announcement of the approved sports (which has been translated into English), he has highlighted the importance of the ordinance: “This initiative of the Ministry of Sports establishes a clearer and more efficient regulatory environment, while prioritizing sports integrity and the recognition of modalities by official entities.
“In parallel, we are committed to creating and strengthening betting inspection structures, ensuring the integrity of competitions and combating the manipulation of results. The new ordinance reflects this commitment, while protecting the sports environment and fostering legality in the sector.”
Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram
