Brazil Senate to vote on gambling legalization "at any moment now"

A global economic player, Brazil however is among the few big economies in the world without a gambling regulatory framework. According to Senator Fernando Bezerra Coelho, such situation hinders efforts to attract foreign investors and boost the country’s tourism industry. Only the lottery sector accounted for USD 400M in 2014, Bezerra said with the Brazilian Caixa lottery service eating only 1 percent of that cake.

“I think we can meet the demands that seek to find a balance between legalization and money laundering,” the senator said adding legalized gambling will allow the country to generate new tax revenues and create jobs.

Following the news, Yogonet talked with Director of BetConsult Edgar Lenzi who considered Wednesday’s approval should pave the way for the project “to be included any moment now in the Senate Plenary's Agenda for vote as well.”

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As I said, the Plenary can vote any moment the PLS 186/2014, but amendments can be proposed by other Senators, what could delay the approval by the Plenary, but I believe it shall be voted quickly, Mr. Lenzi said

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“I believe that there may be some resistance by senators and congressmen who are against the legalization of gambling. But we are confident that it will be approved.”

In the meantime, it was confirmed yesterday that lawmaker Guilherme Mussi, the head of the Special Commission for the Regulatory Framework of Gaming in Brazil, will be inaugurating the Brazilian Gaming Congress (BgC) that will take place on November 20-22 in the city of Sao Paulo. 

Mussi will be taking part as well in a November 21 panel session to give an update on the current status of Brazil's legislative efforts to legalize gambling.