Brazil Signs Macolin Convention, Boosting Sports Integrity

Brazil officially signed the Macolin Convention on October 30th, becoming the first Latin American country and 44th signatory to the international treaty against sports competition manipulation. This signature marks a new milestone in Brazil’s international efforts for sports integrity, though it does not constitute full ratification.

What Happened

Brazil adopted the Macolin Convention, an international agreement focused on preventing and combating the manipulation of sports competitions, on October 30th, 2026, at the Council of Europe’s headquarters in Strasbourg, France, according to iGaming Today. The signing by Brazilian Ambassador to France and Monaco Ricardo Neiva Tavares, in the presence of Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, positions Brazil as the first Latin American nation and the 44th signatory to the treaty (iGaming Today, AGENCE EUROPE, MGA reviews).

The program leading to this signature was led by Brazil’s Ministries of Sport, Finance, Justice and Public Security, and Foreign Affairs. Brazil had initially expressed interest in joining the program in September 2025. While the signing represents a significant international effort for sports integrity, the treaty must undergo domestic procedures to take full effect within the country (iGaming Today).

Key Details

• Brazil became the first Latin American country and the 44th signatory to the Macolin Convention on October 30th, 2026, signed in Strasbourg, France, as reported by iGaming Today.
• The Brazilian Ambassador to France and Monaco, Ricardo Neiva Tavares, signed the document with Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset present (iGaming Today, Alain Berset).
• The Macolin Convention is the first legally binding international agreement to combat sports competition manipulation, in force since September 2019, and establishes cooperation mechanisms among governments, law enforcement, regulators, sports organizations, and betting operators (iGaming Today).
• The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) publicly supported Brazil’s accession in September 2025, emphasizing its Integrity Unit, established in 2023, to combat irregularities related to sports betting (iGaming Today).

Why It Matters

The Macolin Convention aims to facilitate the identification of suspicious transactions, information sharing, and investigation of cross-border manipulation schemes by establishing national sports integrity platforms. These platforms act as central hubs for gathering information on suspicious activities, evaluating alerts, and coordinating referrals to appropriate agencies (iGaming Today).

Brazil’s signature complements existing domestic measures, such as the National Policy for the Prevention and Fight Against Sports Competition Manipulation (PNPEMR), introduced in March 2026. This policy, coordinated by the Ministry of Sport, alongside the Ministries of Finance and Justice and Public Security, and the Federal Police, includes standardized reporting processes, training for public officials, and integration of suspicious betting market activity information (iGaming Today). The Macolin Convention is particularly relevant for investigations involving individuals and entities operating across national borders.

However, the signature also comes amid challenges posed by Brazil’s domestic betting regulations. The implementation of Provisional Measure No. 1394/2026, which banned the use of fixed-odds betting, has impacted integrity programs in the regulated sector. For instance, the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) had to suspend an agreement on sports integrity with Sportradar following these restrictions (SBC Noticias, iGaming Today). This situation raises questions regarding the future cooperation framework between public sector authorities, sports bodies, and integrity monitoring firms.

What’s Next

The treaty must undergo Brazil’s domestic legal procedures for ratification before it can take full effect in the country (iGaming Today).