The Senate of Brazil has officially recognised Futevôlei (footvolley) and Altinha (keepy up) as professional sports. The move is viewed to deepen sports opportunities and unlock public/private investment while paving the way for regulated betting markets around the two disciplines.

The Senate’s Sports Committee (CEsp) approved Bills No. 423/2025 and 434/2025, authored by Senator Romário (PL-RJ), to enshrine both sports within Brazil’s legal sporting framework. The recognition enables access to development funds, educational programmes, and commercial partnerships — including regulated betting operations.

Under the new framework, licensed operators will be allowed to offer betting odds and micro-betting markets on footvolley and altinha competitions. The Sistema Nacional de Integridade Esportiva (SINAPO – National Sports Integrity System) will oversee both sports to safeguard against match-fixing and other integrity threats.

Industry observers have welcomed the move but warn that both sports still require significant investment to build professional structures. Neither has established league systems or advanced data-tracking capabilities — both essential for integrity monitoring and market credibility. Greater funding will be needed to create official competitions, enhance player data collection, and produce verified performance statistics that underpin regulated betting activity.

The footvolley bill now requires a final Senate vote before moving to the plenary chamber, while the altinha proposal advances to the Chamber of Deputies for final approval.

Originating on Rio de Janeiro’s beaches in the 1960s, footvolley combines football technique with volleyball rules, with players using their feet, chest, and head to keep the ball in play over a net. 

Initially a pastime for footballers during the off-season, it evolved into a nationwide phenomenon during the 2000s and 2010s. A 2022 Ibope Repucom study found that more than 50 million Brazilians follow the sport, confirming its status as one of the country’s fastest-growing recreational sports.

Footvolley has already attracted betting-sector partnerships. The Brazil Footvolley Open received backing from Casa de Apostas, which sponsors athletes “Ice Man” and “Índio”, while Luck.Bet became title sponsor of the Brazilian Footvolley Circuit for both male and female competitions. The Brazilian Footvolley League’s Goiânia stage drew more than 590,000 live viewers.

Arthur Bernardo Neto of Ibope Repucom said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the research results, noting that the data “provides the first opportunity to track footvolley’s expansion, which will help shape future commercial and sporting development”.

Altinha, meanwhile, emerged in the 1990s as a freestyle offshoot of footvolley. Played without a net or teams, the objective is simply to keep the ball airborne through coordinated touches. 

The sport surged in popularity during the 2010s thanks to viral social-media clips on Instagram and TikTok. Competitive “Altinha Street” tournaments now take place in cities such as Santos and Rio de Janeiro, and the International Olympic Committee is reportedly studying its potential for future inclusion.

At present, altinha lacks structured governance, ranking systems, and integrity protocols — key foundations for any regulated betting market. However, its strong online presence has caught the eye of operators targeting Gen Z audiences, with Altinha FC boasting more than 500,000 followers and offering natural engagement opportunities for sponsors and affiliates.

Senator Romário,  said the bills “seek to formally recognise sports that already exist within Brazilian culture but need institutional support to grow”.

Leila Barros, President of the Senate’s Sports Committee, added: “Brazil is the birthplace of countless talented athletes who hone their skills on beaches and in public spaces. Recognising these disciplines allows us to value our sporting heritage while promoting greater social inclusion.”

The official recognition of footvolley and altinha marks another milestone in Brazil’s ongoing effort to merge cultural expression with professional sports governance — and opens new commercial horizons for the country’s expanding betting ecosystem.