After more than three decades of debate, the Senate may vote next Tuesday (8) the bill that legalizes the exploration of bingos, casinos, animal game and other betting modalities currently banned in Brazil.
The proposal, approved by the House of Representatives in 2022, gained new impetus with the support of Senate President David Alcolumbre (Brazil-AP Union), and rapporteur, Senator Irajá Abreu (PSD-TO).
The target of strong resistance from the evangelical bench, especially from the Jair Bolsonaro PL, the bill was approved by the Senate Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) in June last year, by tight margin: 14 votes to 12. At the time, alcohubre articulated the temporary replacement of senators in the collegiate to ensure majority in favor of the text.
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The legalization of the Games provides for bingo authorizations in stadiums and dedicated houses, animal game, turf (horsepower) and resorts integrated casinos or boats.
The proposal has the support of parties from the Lula government base, such as PT, PSD, União Brasil and PP. It is also defended by the Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino (União Brasil), as a measure of promotion to the economy and tourism.
Despite the effort, the attempted voting in plenary at the end of 2024 was frustrated for lack of consensus. Now, with the parliamentary recess approaching, Alcolumbre again probing parliamentarians and works to approve the text until mid -July.
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Lobby, criticism and veto
The advance of the proposal occurs amid an intense lobby of businessmen in the sector and the expectation of tax collection. Senator Irajá himself traveled in 2020 to Las Vegas to meet the American model and dialogue with representatives of Las Vegas Sands, a giant of the sector founded by Sheldon Adelson.
On the other hand, critical senators warn of the social effects of legalization. Hotel sector entities, such as ABIH (Brazilian Hotel Industry Association), advocate regulation as a way to attract investments, generate jobs and combat the illegal market.
If the Senate approves the text without changes, the proposal goes to presidential sanction. In an interview with Middle radio In June 2023, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) stated that he is not favorable to the game, but will sanction the proposal if it is approved by Congress.
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The project under discussion originated in 1991, when the then deputy Renato Vianna (PMDB-SC) proposed the revocation of decrees from the 1940s that fits the animal game as a criminal misdemeanor. In 2022, the then mayor Arthur Lira (PP-AL) rescued the text to expand the scope of the proposal, including casinos and bingos in legalization.
