Senator renews push for legal land-based casinos in Brazil

Senator Irajá Abreu is renewing his call to legalize land-based casinos in Brazil, arguing the move could generate as much as BRL 20 billion ($3.7 billion) in tax revenue.

While online gambling regulation came into effect on January 1, land-based betting remains illegal, despite approval of PL 2,234/2022 by Brazil’s Justice and Citizenship Committee. The bill, which covers casinos, bingo, jogo do bicho, and horse race betting, has faced repeated delays in the Senate, with the latest vote postponed in July.

“We will create a new business environment in Brazil, which will generate more than a million new jobs for the Brazilian people,” Abreu told Brazilian news outlet ND Mais. He said legalizing land-based casinos could raise at least BRL 20 billion in taxes.

Abreu noted these funds would be distributed across the country, supporting states, municipalities, and key public services such as health, education, and public safety, ultimately benefiting the Brazilian population as a whole.

The senator also highlighted the potential for land-based gambling to strengthen Brazil’s lagging tourism sector. In 2023, the country welcomed around six million tourists, compared to over 10 million visitors to the Dominican Republic—a nation vastly smaller in size than Brazil.

“Countries that have legalized responsible gambling have doubled their tourist flow in just five years,” Abreu said. “Meanwhile, Brazil watches tourists from Europe, Asia, and the United States visit neighboring countries like Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, generating wealth abroad instead of within our borders.”

Abreu said that, despite being illegal, gambling operations such as bingo, casinos, and jogo do bicho are widespread across Brazil. “And the government does not collect, the Brazilian people do not collect a single cent in taxes, the government does not monitor and we are unable to protect citizens from this game that I call gambling," he added.