Esports in the National Congress: protecting athletes and ensuring the right to compete
The growth of esports in Brazil demands a shift in approach from public authorities. It is not enough to acknowledge the economic, cultural, and sporting relevance of games, celebrate major […] O post Esports in the National Congress: protecting athletes and ensuring the right to compete apareceu p…
The growth of esports in Brazil demands a shift in approach from public authorities. It is not enough to acknowledge the economic, cultural, and sporting relevance of games, celebrate major tournaments, or discuss investment opportunities. It is necessary to address issues that directly affect those who sustain this ecosystem: athletes, women, and the professionals who work daily to turn esports into a sustainable activity. The report published by GE on October 26, 2026, on the lawsuits involving the former esports division of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, offers a concrete example of the risks facing a sector that needs to mature its labor relations, oversight mechanisms, and governance practices. The case should not be treated as an isolated episode, but rather as an opportunity to discuss the protection of professionals and the responsibility of organizations that commercially exploit esports. According to GE’s survey, 30 labor lawsuits were identified against Corinthians and the company CDS E-Sports e Entretenimento. Among the 13 cases that already had court rulings, ten resulted in joint convictions of the club and the company, considering the first- and second-instance decisions reported by the publication. The amounts involved in the rulings exceed R$2.8 million. The cases present different circumstances, including claims of recognition of employment relationships and unpaid wages. The episode reveals a fundamental question: who is responsible when an organization ceases operations, an intermediary company fails to meet its obligations, and professionals are left unpaid for the work they performed? The athlete must be recognized as a worker and a holder of rights For a long time, part of the market treated esports as an informal environment, where passion for games would justify poorly structured professional relationships. This mindset can no longer prevail. Professional athletes train, keep schedules, participate in championships, produce content, represent brands, follow technical guidance, and are subject to targets and performance demands. Depending on the specific conditions of the relationship, these activities may constitute an employment relationship, with the corresponding rights provided for under Brazilian law. The name given to the contract, by itself, does not determine its legal nature. It is important to distinguish the professional athlete from other players in the ecosystem, such as content creators, amateur players, service providers, and influencers. Each relationship requires its own analysis. What cannot be accepted is the lack of specific regulation for every situation being used as a justification for failing to comply with rights already guaranteed by law. Protection must also extend to owed wages and prize money, transparent contracts, adequate training conditions, physical and psychological safety, harassment prevention, reporting mechanisms, and clear rules for the dissolution of teams. The situation reported at Corinthians also shows that outsourcing an operation does not automatically eliminate all legal risks for those who license a brand or benefit from the activity. Each party’s responsibility depends on the facts and the applicable legal framework. For this reason, well-drafted contracts, oversight of partners, and guarantee mechanisms are tools for prevention, not mere administrative formalities. Women in esports: participation does not mean equality The second issue that needs to occupy space on the legislative agenda is violence against women in games and esports. The Panel on Violence Against Women in Games and Esports in Latin America 2026, released by the Latin American Esports Institute (ILAE), gathered 335 responses collected between April and May of that year. Among the participants, 89.3% said they had already experienced violence or harassment in games or esports. In addition, 87.9% said they had witnessed violence against women in these environments, while only 0.4% considered the gaming environment fully safe for women. These figures should be interpreted taking into account the nature and scope of a survey based on voluntary responses, with no claim to statistically represent the entire gaming population. Even so, the accounts represent a relevant warning about experiences of violence and barriers to women’s participation. Violence is not limited to insults during a match. It appears in threats, sexual harassment, discrimination, dismissal of technical skill, harassment on social media, and hostile work environments. It can affect athletes, referees, commentators, coaches, executives, researchers, developers, and content creators. The consequences extend beyond the virtual environment. Women may stop participating in championships, avoid voice broadcasts, hide their identity, or give up professional opportunities to protect their own safety. This means that the problem is not merely one of coexistence among players. It is a matter of rights, safety, equal opportunity, and economic development. A sector that loses talent due to violence undermines its own capacity to grow. It is not enough to organize women’s tournaments or run occasional campaigns on International Women’s Day. Conditions must be ensured so that women can compete, work, and hold leadership positions without facing barriers that should not exist in the first place. A permanent legislative agenda in the National Congress The Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate need to take on a more effective role in this debate. Brazil already has relevant legal frameworks, such as the General Sports Law (Law No. 14,597/2023) and the Legal Framework for the Electronic Games Industry (Law No. 14,852/2024). The regulation of this latter framework, through Decree No. 13,138, of October 14, 2026, also represents an important reference point for the discussion on esports in the country. These advances, however, do not conclude the legislative work. The challenge now is to turn legal recognition into concrete measures for protection, oversight, prevention, and development. The Chamber of Deputies already has a Special Subcommittee on Esports, linked to the Sports Committee, created in 2024. Its existence is an institutional opportunity that must be accompanied by regular debates, meaningful community participation, and concrete follow-up actions. The Federal Senate should also incorporate the topic into discussions on sports, women’s rights, labor relations, protection of children and adolescents, and the digital economy. A national agenda for esports should address at least five priority areas. 1. Labor and contractual protection of athletes: Public hearings on contracts, compensation, prize money, team dissolution, outsourcing, and organizational responsibility must be promoted. The goal should be to identify real gaps and strengthen compliance with existing rights, avoiding both precarious working conditions and the creation of rules incompatible with the diversity of professional relationships in the sector. 2. Prevention and response to violence against women: Congress must debate prevention protocols, independent reporting channels, victim support, protection against retaliation, manager training, and accountability measures. It is also necessary to discuss how these initiatives can be coordinated with clubs, esports organizations, developers, digital platforms, and sports entities. 3. Governance and organizational responsibility: Teams, clubs, and companies that commercially exploit esports need to adopt good management practices, contractual transparency, financial controls, and partner monitoring. Licensing a brand should not exempt an organization from checking for labor and operational risks. The legislative debate should consider incentives for adopting these practices and proportionate oversight mechanisms. 4. Comprehensive protection of athletes, especially minors: Training young talent requires attention to training schedules, education, physical and mental health, public exposure, privacy, and protection against economic exploitation. The debate must involve families, schools, experts, sports organizations, and public authorities, while respecting the rights already guaranteed to children and adolescents. 5. Data production and monitoring of public policy: The country needs to better understand the profile of athletes, their working conditions, women’s participation, incidents of violence, and conflict resolution mechanisms. Regular research and public indicators can guide more effective policies and allow Congress to track outcomes, rather than limiting its action to holding isolated hearings. Dialogue must produce results A consistent legislative agenda cannot be built solely by lawmakers, executives, or representatives of large companies. It must include professional and amateur athletes, women working in the sector, team organizations, sports entities, developers, researchers, labor law experts, and representatives of public authorities. It is also necessary to establish a permanent calendar of debates, with public consultations, social participation, and follow-up on the proposals presented. The Special Subcommittee on Esports in the Chamber of Deputies can serve as a space for coordination, provided it has clear objectives, active listening, and the capacity to turn findings into legislative action. Congress does not need to wait for new labor disputes, reports of violence, or institutional crises to gain national attention before acting. Prevention costs less, protects people, and contributes to the sector’s credibility. The development of esports depends on the protection of people The Corinthians case shows that the professionalization of esports cannot be measured solely by the size of fan bases, the audience for competitions, or the value of sponsorships. It must also be assessed by the ability to fulfill contracts, protect workers, prevent abuse, and ensure decent conditions for those who take part in this industry. Likewise, we cannot speak of female inclusion while women continue to face violence that limits their participation and professional opportunities. Brazil has the conditions to become a Latin American benchmark in governance, integrity, and protection in esports. To achieve this, it needs to bring together public authorities, the private sector, the competitive community, and scientific research. The question facing lawmakers is simple: will we keep discussing esports only when crises arise, or will we build a permanent policy for its development? Esports need an agenda in the National Congress because the future of this sector depends not only on the games we play, but also on the rights we are able to guarantee to those who play them. References: Corinthians case: GE report, October 26, 2026: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/corinthians/noticia/2026/10/26/corinthians-sofre-enxurrada-de-acoes-judiciais-por-irregularidades-em-extinta-divisao-de-esports Violence against women: ILAE research on violence against women in games and esports: https://igamingbrazil.com/esports/2026/06/09/pesquisa-do-ilae-aponta-que-893-das-mulheres-ja-sofreram-violencia-em-games-e-esports/ Legislative action: Subcommittees of the Chamber of Deputies’ Sports Committee: https://www2.camara.leg.br/atividade-legislativa/comissoes/comissoes-permanentes/cespo/subcomissoes/57a-legislatura-atual-2023-2027/subcomissao-especial-dos-esportes-eletronicos Games Legal Framework: Ministry of Sports and regulation of Law No. 14,852/2024 https://www.gov.br/esporte/pt-br/noticias/decreto-regulamenta-marco-legal-da-industria-de-jogos-eletronicos-no-brasil Carlos Gama is president of the Latin American Institute of Esports, vice-president of games and esports at the ASSESPRO-RJ Federation and chairman of the Advisory Council of the Rio de Janeiro State Esports Federation (FERJEE). He is a professor at ABC-BET Academy – a course on Integrity and Risk Management in Esports and a Consultant to the Committee on Esports at the OAB-RJ (Rio de Janeiro Bar Association). He is also the author of the book ‘Our Game Is Dialogue: Reflections on Public Policy in Esports in Rio de Janeiro’ and organizer of the Responsible Esports Handbook – Combating Match Manipulation in Esports, as well as editor-in-chief of the Brazilian Journal of Electronic Sports and coordinator of the Lusophone Network of Esports Researchers (RELUPE). O post Esports in the National Congress: protecting athletes and ensuring the right to compete apareceu primeiro em iGaming Brazil.