Brazil Signs Macolin Convention to Combat Global Match-Fixing

Brazil has taken a decisive step in protecting sports integrity and fighting criminal networks in the betting sector. On Friday, at the Council of Europe headquarters in France, the country signed the Macolin Convention. This international treaty is regarded as the most significant instrument for preventing and combating the manipulation of sports competitions. Ricardo Neiva Tavares, the Brazilian Ambassador to France, signed the document on behalf of the government, making Brazil the first nation in the Americas to join this alliance.

The signing results from extensive coordination between various ministries, including the Ministries of Finance, Sport, and Justice. This development follows a process that began in 2025 when the National Secretariat for Sports Betting issued a technical statement favoring accession. The goal is to create a transparent and secure sports environment where fraud can be detected early and prosecuted consistently. The convention provides a legal framework that greatly simplifies cooperation across national borders.

Numbers and facts

As of September 2026, a total of 43 countries have signed the Macolin Convention. Of these, 17 states have fully ratified the treaty. Outside of Europe, Australia and Morocco are also among the signatories. The convention was originally opened for signature in 2014 in the Swiss city of Macolin and officially entered into force in September 2019.

A key component of the agreement is the establishment of a national platform in each member state. This serves as a central hub for information flow between authorities and private actors in the betting industry. Parallel to this, Brazil launched the National Policy for the Prevention and Confrontation of Manipulation of Sports Results (PNPEMR) in March 2026. This policy was developed in conjunction with the Federal Police to establish guidelines for monitoring and repressing sports fraud.

"Brazil is taking an important step in protecting the integrity of sports. Now, with the signing of the Macolin Convention, we are expanding the possibilities for international cooperation. This work strengthens the fight against fraud and helps protect athletes, clubs and fans." - Giovanni Rocco, National Secretary of Sports Betting in Brazil

Background

Competition manipulation is often a transnational problem, connecting criminal gangs across continents. The Macolin Convention addresses this by demanding mutual legal assistance and data exchange regarding suspicious betting patterns. For Brazil, this accession is a strategic milestone as the country is currently undergoing a comprehensive regulation of its massive online gambling and sports betting market. Without international integration, controlling globally operating betting providers would be nearly impossible.

Although the signature was provided in France, the internal process is not yet complete. The text must now be submitted to the Brazilian National Congress for analysis and approval. Only after this approval and subsequent ratification will Brazil officially become a State Party with all rights and obligations. This is a standard procedure for international treaties, ensuring that national laws harmonize with global requirements.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, this international alliance primarily means increased security for global sporting events. When a major country like Brazil aligns its monitoring standards with European norms, the risk of manipulated games appearing in German betting portfolios decreases. In Germany, sports integrity is strictly protected by the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). The Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL) ensures that licensed operators use fraud detection mechanisms.

Players in Germany benefit from the fact that only operators with a GGL license are legal. These must adhere to limits, such as the 1,000 Euro monthly deposit limit via the LUGAS system. Since manipulation often occurs in smaller leagues or foreign markets, global cooperation through agreements like Macolin is essential. It ensures that bets placed domestically are based on fair athletic performance.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

German casinos and betting providers with a GGL license are required to report suspicious betting patterns. The expansion of the Macolin Convention to Brazil gives these providers access to better data sources and early warning systems from South America. As many Brazilian football leagues are popular with German bettors, this increases the stability of the German market. An operator on the GGL whitelist can now rely on the fact that regulatory structures similar to those in Europe are emerging on the other side of the Atlantic.

This makes it harder for illegal overseas providers (such as those with licenses from Curacao or the MGA) to use their platforms for money laundering or match-fixing. The networking of supervisory authorities ensures that bad actors can be identified and excluded from the market more quickly. For German regulation, this is a victory as the GlüStV 2021 defines the protection against match-fixing as one of its primary objectives.