The Brazilian terrestrial gambling market was initially highly anticipated, with many international and local operators viewing it as the next growth engine. However, the latest developments have been a major disappointment: the planned casino regulation legislation has been temporarily halted, plunging the industry's prospects back into uncertainty.
According to "SBC Noticias Brazil", this postponement stems from the intervention of the President of the Brazilian Senate, Davi Alcolumbre. Although the bill was scheduled for a vote soon, it was temporarily shelved due to the number of federal senators present not meeting expectations.
Alcolumbre explained: "Yesterday and today, we expected the attendance of 81 senators, but only 56 attended, with eight or nine abroad on official duties. After communicating with them, they suggested postponing the vote so they could be present on the crucial voting day."
The casino bill aims to fully legalize and regulate physical casinos, bingo halls, and traditional gambling forms such as "jogo do bicho". Previously, the bill had passed the Senate Constitutional and Justice Committee (CCJ) by a vote of 14 to 12 at the end of 2024, but progress has been slow since then. This delay in the vote means that the likelihood of the bill being re-agendaed in the short term is not great.
Regulatory Perspective: Illegal Market Still Exists, Legal Path is Forming
Despite the stagnation of the physical casino bill, Brazil has still made some progress in overall gambling regulation. Régis Dudena, the Minister of Finance for Prizes and Betting Affairs, in an interview with "SBC Noticias", stated that player behavior is currently being guided through legal channels, with initial regulatory effects becoming apparent.
He said: "Comparing the state of the industry in December last year with now, it is clear that we have established a clearer, compliant market structure. Nowadays, more and more bettors choose to entertain themselves on authorized platforms."
While Dudena acknowledges that illegal gambling still poses problems, he disputes the notion of "illegal market growth", suggesting that it should be analyzed from a trend perspective. He pointed out that the country is actively coordinating resources to combat illegal operations, and believes that as authorized platforms advance, the industry is gradually transitioning to compliance.
"We still have a lot of work to do, but the trend is improving. Bettors are beginning to trust legal institutions, which is crucial for the entire industry."
Although the Brazilian government is advancing online gambling regulation, the delay in legislation in the physical gambling sector is still seen as a major impediment in the country's gambling reform process, also raising concerns about uncertainty in the Brazilian market among international investors.
