The Senate's CCJ has once again postponed the vote on PL 2.234/2022 this Wednesday (5), which legalizes casinos, bingos, and the "jogo do bicho". By agreement in the Committee, the president granted a collective view of the report favorable to the matter, prepared by Senator Irajá. Davi Alcolumbre assured that the proposal will be considered before the parliamentary recess, which begins on July 15.
In the midst of pressure from the evangelical bench, Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP) has already removed the text from the agenda twice, citing the absence of Senator Irajá, the rapporteur of Bill 2.234/2022. This time, he was present and the president of the CCJ dismissed the possibility of postponement proposed by Senator Eduardo Girão.
The senator opposing legal gambling requested the postponement claiming that another senator, Magno Malta, was not present and that he would like to discuss the matter. Alcolumbre disagreed and only defined the collective view.
Alcolumbre's position on advancing the proposal is the same as that of the President of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), and both are in favor of the proposal. “I consider it an important, meritorious project and I am in favor,” declared Alcolumbre, who behind the scenes has been pushing the matter forward.
Senator Irajá is also in favor of the matter and has already advanced his vote when he read the report, which now must pass to the hands of senators who do not support legal gambling, leaving it in the eternal illegal market.
Senator Irajá estimates that the gambling market in Brazil moved at least R$ 15 billion in 2023, a figure that, according to him, could exceed R$ 30 billion per year. Citing statistics on the market for legal or illegal betting, Irajá concludes that “gambling already constitutes a significant economic activity”.
In his report, Irajá dismissed as “an indeterminate legal concept” the offense to morals and good customs, used as an argument against gambling, and highlighted that the project deals with transferring to the State a practice that today constitutes a misdemeanor.
Despite the argument of increased revenue, the government leader in the Senate, Jaques Wagner (PT-BA), recognizes that the issue divides the government base. “I do not have a definitive government position yet. If you look, those who are focused on the Treasury will say that it will generate revenue,” he pointed out.
For the opposition senator Dr. Hiran (PP-RO), the regulation of casinos in the country has enormous potential in job creation and therefore should prioritize developing areas.
“Casinos are a private investment and generate a lot of employment in the service and entertainment sector. Areas that have casinos in the world, like Las Vegas, earn much more from entertainment than from gambling,” argued the senator.
Meanwhile, the position of the evangelical base continues, presenting misguided opinions against gambling, such as being susceptible to money laundering, association with crime, and other ills.
According to the proposal, already approved in the Chamber of Deputies within the scope of PL 442/91, in addition to the legalization of casinos in tourist hubs or integrated leisure complexes, bingos and jogo do bicho, gaming houses on maritime and river vessels, which will follow specific rules, will also be able to operate. The casino must prove a minimum integrated social capital of at least R$ 100 million and may be accredited for 30 years.
The proposition also establishes rules for the game of bingo in card and electronic modalities, and allows in each state the accreditation of a legal entity for every 700,000 inhabitants for the exploitation of the jogo do bicho.
In this case, the authorizations will have a validity of 25 years, renewable for an equal period. Horse races may be exploited by turf entities (linked to turf) accredited in the Ministry of Agriculture, which may also explore, at the same time, games of bingo and videobingo.
Source: GMB
