betsBetting Bank: who are the allies of the bookmakers in the National Congress

In late November 2025, amid intense political debate over the "PL Antifacção" bill—aimed at defining certain groups as terrorist organizations—two speeches delivered during a pre-vote meeting drew significant attention. The speeches were given by federal deputies Dr. Luizinho (PP-RJ) and Isnaldo Bulhões (MDB-AL), both prominent leaders within their respective parties in the Chamber of Deputies. These two politicians opposed another legislative proposal, the PL 5.473/25 introduced by Senator Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL), which sought to increase taxes on digital betting houses, fintech companies, and banks. This bill was eventually approved two weeks later by the Senate's Committee on Economic Affairs (CAE) but has yet to reach the full chamber for voting.

This was not the first time these two legislators had worked together to shield betting companies from additional taxation. In February of this year, they successfully pushed to remove the Contribution for Intervention in the Economic Domain, known as Cide-bets, from the final version of the "PL Antifacção." The report was initially prepared by Deputy Guilherme Derrite (PP-SP), who had recently left his position as head of São Paulo’s Public Security Secretariat to take up the role in the project. After negotiations between the parties, the proposed 15% tax was removed from the text, resulting in an estimated annual loss of around R$30 billion in revenue for public security.

More recently, in April, the pair traveled together to the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, a well-known tax haven. Joining them were House Speaker Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB) and Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI). The trip included businessman "Fernandin OIG," owner of the private jet used for the journey, who is linked to the "Jogo do Tigrinho" case and is considered a close associate of Nogueira. The trip gained media attention after the Federal Police identified that seven pieces of luggage from the return flight did not pass through the airport’s X-ray scanners. However, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes closed the investigation following a recommendation from the Office of the Attorney General.

According to investigations conducted by Agência Pública, the alliance between Isnaldo Bulhões and Dr. Luizinho, along with their travel companions, extends beyond the incidents highlighted by the press. These four individuals have been identified by dozens of interviewed lawmakers as members of an informal but influential bloc within Congress known as the "Bancada das Bets." Leading this group are also Deputy Felipe Carreras (MDB-PE) and Senator Ângelo Coronel (Republicans-BA).

Unlike sectors such as agribusiness, which have a formal parliamentary front composed of 292 lawmakers and connected to private entities like the Institute Pensar Agro (IPA), the "Bancada das Bets" operates through direct conversations with party leadership, providing speeches in favor of betting activities. Their arguments range from advocating free market principles to ideological narratives that portray the government as the antagonist imposing taxes.

At least eleven other parliamentarians are believed to be part of this bloc, having already included among their activities the drafting of bills or amendments directly benefiting the betting industry. One of the most recent proposals, submitted on May 27 by opposition leader in the Chamber, Cabo Gilberto (PL-PB), aims to repeal the 15% tax on the net value of prizes won in lottery and betting games, allowing winners to receive their prizes without tax deductions. Cabo Gilberto denied being part of any specific faction aligned with the betting industry, stating that the proposal benefits consumers and those who win, rather than the betting companies themselves.