Zona de Azar Brasil – Brazil: Senate Postpones Bill Authorizing Casinos and Bingo

Brazil – December 6, 2024 www.zonadeazar.com The Senate postponed on Wednesday (4) the vote on a bill that authorizes the operation of casinos and bingos in Brazil, legalizes the “jogo do bicho” (animal game), and allows betting on horse races and other games of chance. The proposal was withdrawn at the request of the rapporteur, Irajá (PSD-TO), following an extensive debate among senators regarding the project’s progress.

According to Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco, this decision means the proposal will only be voted on next year.

On one side, there was a request for urgency in voting on the matter (which was not voted on). On the other, there were requests for information from ministries and demands for PL 2.234/2022 to be referred to three committees. With its removal from the agenda, Pacheco stated that the project will await responses from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family, and Hunger Combat, which are expected to be delivered within 30 days.

Senator Flávio Arns (PSB-PR) presented a request for “data projecting the specific effects of the proposal on the services of psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers in the public network for treating gambling addiction problems.” Since the urgency request was not approved, the amendments will need to be analyzed by the Committee on Constitution and Justice (CCJ) under the next Board’s management and leadership of the new committee president.

— The project is removed from the agenda. It will inevitably be up to the next Board to define the project’s developments, — Pacheco remarked.

Before requesting its withdrawal, Senator Irajá pointed out that some of these games are already operating clandestinely in Brazil.

— We are facing a significant dilemma in Brazil. There are those who support maintaining games of chance controlled and dominated by organized crime in the country. And others, like me, who advocate for responsible gambling in the country, controlled by public authorities, monitored, generating tax revenue, and penalizing those who commit crimes, — Irajá defended.

Most senators who spoke called for further debate and distribution of the project to the Social Affairs (CAS), Economic Affairs (CAE), and Public Security (CSP) Committees. Opponents argue that the project could encourage gambling addiction and crimes like money laundering.

— We saw a signal with the betting platforms we approved exactly a year ago, and we made a mistake. That mistake is now evident: lives destroyed. We cannot take another step and commit a new error that might cause more problems than solutions, — said Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE).

Some called for the proposal to be shelved, including Esperidião Amin (PP-SC) and Eliziane Gama (PSD-MA):

— I believe the best course of action, given the urgency request was not approved, is to shelve the project, — Eliziane defended.

Esperidião Amin noted that the project had been in “limbo” for years but could return to the agenda at any moment:

— It [the project] did not resurrect; it never died: it was in purgatory, awaiting an opportunity. Six feet under is not enough. It needs to disappear, — Amin stated.

Initially presented in 1991 by then-Federal Deputy Renato Vianna, the project was approved by the Chamber more than 30 years later, in 2022. Sent to the Senate, it narrowly passed the Committee on Constitution and Justice (CCJ) in June 2024 with 14 votes to 12.

What does the project propose?

• Casinos: Authorizes the installation of casinos in tourist hubs or integrated leisure complexes like resorts and high-end hotels. Casinos can also be located on maritime vessels (limited to 10 nationwide) and riverboats with at least 50 cabins, distributed proportionally to river lengths.
• Bingo: Permits bingo operations permanently in specific locations, including card, electronic, and video bingo. Each municipality may have one bingo venue, with one establishment for every 150,000 inhabitants in larger cities.
• Betting Machines: Requires rental registration with public authorities and periodic audits. Revenue sharing will allocate 40% to the rental company and 60% to the casino or bingo establishment.
• Horse Racing Bets: Can be managed by turf organizations accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture. These organizations may also operate bingo and video bingo at horse racing locations.
• Taxes: Introduces two new levies: the Games and Bets Supervision Fee (Tafija) and the Economic Domain Intervention Contribution on game commercialization (Cide-Games). Betting houses will be exempt from other taxes and contributions.

Source: Agência Senado (Reproduction authorized with citation).

Editó: @_fonta www.zonadeazar.com