Federal revenue from gambling and sports betting reached R$3.03 billion from January to May this year, according to data released on Thursday (26) by the Federal Revenue Service. The figure represents a jump of more than 40,000% compared to the same period in 2024, when only R$7 million were collected.

Just in May, the amount collected was USD 150.7 million, compared to USD 740,000 in the same month last year - an increase of 23,096.8 per cent. The significant advance reflects the implementation of taxation on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), the basis used to calculate the taxes owed by bookmakers.

The law that started charging taxes on betting was passed in January 2024, and in October of the same year companies had to apply for operating permits and pay the fees to be considered legalised.

The GGR corresponds to the operators' net revenue, i.e. the total wagered minus the prizes paid out to players. Taxes were levied on this base with the regulation of the fixed-odds betting sector, such as those carried out through digital platforms.

According to the tax office, the gambling sector has surpassed traditional sectors of the economy in terms of revenue. In May, it collected more than activities such as education (USD 95.6 million), machinery and equipment manufacturing (USD 75.6 million) and retail trade (USD 93.9 million).

The Ministry of Finance has announced that the GGR rate on bets will rise from 12% to 18% as of 1st October.

The measure is included in a Provisional Measure with alternatives to the increase in the decree that raised the IOF, and should have a positive impact on tax collection: USD 52.8 million in 2025 and around USD 314.8 million a year from 2026.