The bill that legalizes bingos in Brazil was set out again in the Chamber of Legislators

Representatives are in favor of a modification in the proposal in order to guarantee that the greatest part of the taxes collected with gaming activities is allocated to health and also to finance the real increment of the minimum salaty.

The measure will replace the creation of a new tax. After nine months, the issue entered in the guideline of the meeting of leaders of the Chamber last week. “The idea was very well accepted because it is more interesting than a new CPMF. It will be put to vote, without having doubts of what is going on”, said representative Fernando Giacobo (PR), who participated in the meeting.

His collegue, representative Sandro Mabel, strengthen the suggestion in a meeting of the political council of the government.  PDT leader and president of the Trade Union Force, Paulo Pereira da Silva, affirmed that the resources would help even to guarantee the increment of the minimum salary.

The last stage of processing of the project was made in September 2009, when the text was approved by 40 votes in the 7th Commission of Constitution and Justice of the Chamber. Votes against the project were leaded by Antonio Carlos Biscaia and José Eduardo Cardozo. Pro-government legislators were in favor of the proposal.

The project plans the creation of a fund for health, culture, sport and public security.  Resources will come from the payment of royalties. According to estimations of the Trade Union Force, sponsor of the gaming legislation, more than us$ 3.774.680.000 would be collected in taxes per year. The entity also plans the creation of up to 250,000 employments.

The writer of the subject, Régis de Oliveira (PSC-SP), said he does not see any problem in a possible change. “The project is good, but may be modified. Everything that is negotiated and reaches a consensus can be performed”, he explained.

De Oliveira denies that legalization will stimulate the vice in gaming and money laundering.  Among other rules, the project plans a series of restrictions to the new bingo houses, for example, the creation of centers at a distance no less than 500 meters from schools and churches.

Bingo legislation had its ups and downs during Lula government. When he assumed as president, in 2003, he ellaborated a decree for the creation of an inter-ministerial work group to formulate a definite proposal on the matter. Everything changed when Waldomiro Diniz, who was councellor of the former Chief of Casa Civil, José Dirceu, appeared in a tape in which he supposedly extorted a businessman of the sector, Carlos Augusto Ramos, known as Carlinhos Cachoeira.

After the episode, Lula edited a provisional measure that banned the operation of any type of game of chance. The president even compared the practice to child prostitution. The last bingo houses were closed in 2006. In 2007, after the reelection of Lula as president, the issue was processed again without any resistance by the official base in the Chamber.