SBC Rio 2026: Entertainment Destination: Tourism and Gaming in Brazil
Brazil.- March o6, 2026 www.zonadeazar.com At the SBC Summit Rio 2026, the panel “Entertainment Destination: Brazil’s future through tourism and gaming” addressed one of the debates gaining momentum in the country: how integrated resorts, land-based entertainment and the potential regulation of casinos could help attract visitors, extend their stays and strengthen the tourism economy.
The session featured Bruno Omori (president of IDT-CEMA), Sergio Ricardo Martins de Almeida (president of TurisRio), Fábio Tibério (Vice President Brazil at VBET) and Ronaldo Porto (marketing executive at Visit Rio), moderated by Magnho José from BNL Data and IJL.
From attracting tourists to retaining them
One of the main themes of the discussion was the role casinos could play within a broader tourism strategy. Panelists agreed that land-based gaming does not necessarily “create” tourism on its own, but it can help retain visitors and strengthen a destination’s competitiveness when it is part of a broader entertainment offering.
In this context, the example of Las Vegas was mentioned, where a significant portion of economic activity comes from the MICE segment — meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions — as well as spending on restaurants, shows and experiences within the destination, beyond gaming itself.
Tourist “leakage” and Brazil’s opportunity
The discussion also highlighted the case of Foz do Iguaçu, where part of the tourist flow crosses the border at night to neighboring countries in search of gaming-related entertainment.
According to the panelists, a model based on integrated resorts with a comprehensive offer — including hotels, gastronomy, shows and entertainment — could help ensure that this spending remains within Brazil.
In this regard, the speakers stressed the importance of developing integrated tourism infrastructure, combining hotels, convention centers and entertainment options capable of attracting major events and sustaining a more stable tourism economy, less dependent on seasonal peaks.
Investment and operations: the importance of legal certainty
From the operator’s perspective, Fábio Tibério emphasized a critical factor for the development of these projects: legal certainty.
Participants agreed that large-scale investments in resorts and entertainment require clear and predictable regulations, particularly regarding taxes, licensing and timelines, since returns on these projects are typically calculated over many years.
They also noted that fiscal pressure or regulatory changes can directly affect areas such as marketing and sports sponsorships. When companies are forced to cut budgets, advertising is often one of the first areas impacted.
Rio and the challenge of “adding one more night”
Ronaldo Porto contributed the perspective of the destination itself. According to him, the average stay in Rio de Janeiro is currently around three nights, largely concentrated within a traditional tourist circuit.
The challenge, he explained, is to encourage visitors to stay one additional night, which could generate a significant economic impact. Each extra day increases spending across hotels, restaurants, transport, entertainment and retail.
From the perspective of Visit Rio, the discussion should not focus solely on gaming, but rather on developing complete tourism products for both adult and family audiences, particularly in areas with strong hotel infrastructure but still fragmented entertainment offerings.
A key debate for the gaming ecosystem
Beyond the legislative discussion around land-based gaming in Brazil, the panel highlighted an important conclusion for the industry: the combination of tourism, entertainment and experience has become central to destination strategies.
As Brazil continues to consolidate its regulated betting market, the development of land-based entertainment — including integrated resorts — is emerging as one of the next major chapters connecting investment, tourism and consumer spending.
Edited by @pererarte www.zonadeazar.com