Brazil's legalized gambling: senators' opinions are divided

Senator Ciro Nogueira’s PLS 186/2014 would allow for the operation of land-based and online gambling across Brazil. With the amendments proposed by senator Benedito de Lira ,the bill also includes jogo do bicho, video bingo and slots, bingo halls, resort casinos, sports betting and online gambling.

The Senate’s Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ in Portuguese) rejected the bill in March. However, it could still be submitted to a vote by the whole Senate if the requirements of senators Fernando Bezerra Coelho and Wellington Fagundes are first met. Still, it is unlikely that the Senate discusses this issue in an election year.

Bezerra Coelho requests that the gambling bill be treated together with bill PLS 595/2015, which provides for ecotourism promotion. Senator Fagundes intends for PLS 186/2014 to be analyzed by the Regional and Tourism Development Committee (CDR).

The proposal to legalize gambling had been approved by the Special Committee for National Development (CEDN). However, there was a request that the bill be also voted on at the CCJ meeting, where most members of the Senate rejected it.

Randolfe Rodrigues argued that the project was way too lenient, broad, and did not provide for a control mechanism on behalf of the State. "Its approval would liberate gambling operations without any government authority which controls these activities, thus, encouraging criminal acts." He also said that legalization would have a harmful impact on players and their families and that it would not generate tax revenue or promote tourism in Brazil.

On the same line, senator Magno Malta stated: "There are no reasons or arguments that prove that gambling legalization in Brazil is a proper decision. Supporters of the bill argue that it would supposedly generate jobs and about USD 3.697.140.000 for the state. But that figure is not real."

However, Benedito de Lira assured that providing a regulatory framework for this activity would help to cope with the problems associated with illegality. "It would help prevent money laundering and also provide resources to deal with problem gambling."

Ciro Nogueira argued that those who oppose this bill want to act as if gambling did not exist. "Brazil is one of the countries with more gambling in the world. The illegal market produces about USD 20 billion a year."