Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies has approved legislation to create a federal sports university in Brasília, tying part of the institution’s funding to revenue generated by the regulated sports betting market. The proposal positions betting as a source of public financing for sports education and research, as Brazil continues to build the policy infrastructure around its legalized betting framework.
The bill, PL 6133/25, would establish the Federal University of Sport, known by the acronym UFEsporte, as a public higher education institution focused on training, research, and technical development across sport and physical activity.
A new federal campus in Brasília
The measure sets UFEsporte as a standalone federal university based in the capital, with academic programs, professional training, and research linked to sport, performance, and related fields. The proposal was introduced by Deputy Orlando Silva and advanced in the Chamber with a substitute text presented by rapporteur Julio Cesar Ribeiro.
Supporters have described the project as a way to professionalize sports science and administration while giving the federal government a dedicated academic hub for sport policy.
Funding model draws on betting and fantasy fees
Under the proposal, UFEsporte would receive federal budget allocations and a portion of resources collected from sports betting and fantasy sports sites. The structure reflects a wider legislative trend in Brazil: earmarking betting-derived funds toward sport and social projects rather than treating the revenue as general taxation.
Governance and transition provisions
The bill includes transitional mechanisms for launching the university, including initial governance setup and the appointment of leadership during the start-up phase. It also allows for the use of existing resources and staffing structures as the institution is formed, reducing the need to build every function from scratch.
The framework places UFEsporte within the federal higher education system, aligning it with the rules that govern other public universities.
The proposal moves to the Senate
With approval in the Chamber of Deputies, PL 6133/25 now proceeds for consideration in the Federal Senate. The plan adds another example of how Brazil is mapping betting-linked revenue into public institutions, extending the conversation beyond enforcement and licensing into long-term allocation choices.
