While the Brazilian Senate takes the post to analyze the bill that seeks to regularize sports betting, after the approval in the Chamber of Deputies, the numbers show that the sector continues with exponential growth.
According to a report by Datahub, a platform that operates with big data and analytics, in the sports betting segment the number of listed companies jumped from 51 to 239 between 2020 and 2022.
The report shows that in 2020, 51 bookmakers were opened in Brazil, rising in 2021 to 116, which meant an increase of 127%. By 2022, the growth was 106%, reaching 239 companies found. This results in an increase of 360% in the analyzed period.
This increase had a notable impact on one of Brazil’s greatest passions: soccer. Within the A Series of the Brazilian Championship, 95% of the teams are sponsored by companies that are part of the country’s sports betting sector.
“The significant growth of the betting segment contributes not only to improving the financial aspect of the clubs and promoting the sport as a whole in the country. This increase provides a new and strong source of revenue for the teams, which helps with new investments in infrastructure and the development and acquisition of players,” said Cristiano Maschio, CEO of Qesh.
The companies in the sector are featured on the jerseys of América-MG, Athletico, Atlético-MG, Bahia, Botafogo, Corinthians, Coritiba, Cruzeiro, Flamengo, Fluminense, Fortaleza, Goiás, Grêmio, Internacional, Palmeiras, Red Bull Bragantino, Santos, São Paulo and Vasco.
Marcos Sabiá, CEO of Galera.bet, commented on this phenomenon: “We are aware that the sports betting segment is an important part of the sports scene and that, therefore, it must cooperate with the progress of national soccer under the best principles. In addition to being sponsors of the main national competition, the Brasileirão, we also defend the clubs and various fans throughout the country, fostering essential values to promote the sport with responsibility and integrity.”
However, the ball is now in the Brazilian Senate, where the regulation of sports betting will move forward through Bill 3626/23. If there are no modifications, the licenses to be granted by the Ministry of Finance will mean an investment of BRL 30 million (about $6 million); something that added to the 18% rate established to operate makes several industry players fear that it will discourage investment in the sector.
This could have serious repercussions for soccer clubs, depriving them of an unparalleled source of income. Fábio Wolff, founding partner of Wolff Sports and sports marketing specialist, commented: “The betting segment is the one that invests the most in the country’s most popular sport. This generates revenues that, if well controlled by the clubs, bring innumerable benefits to all involved”.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2023/09/26/68926-brazil-sports-betting-grows-by-360–sector-currently-sponsors-95-of-soccer-teams
