Despite his critical stance on online gambling, Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad openly supports the legalization of physical casinos and bingo halls. In an interview with Canal Livre TV, Haddad used gambling regulation as an example to discuss the potential and advantages of physical gambling in Brazil.
Haddad pointed out that Congress has already approved online gambling, but has not yet passed the Bill No. 2,234/2022, which aims to authorize the operation of casinos, bingo halls, animal racing, and horse betting. He criticized this "reversal of priorities": "Virtual gambling is approved, while offline gambling is not, which is a bit strange. I think this approach is quite unreasonable."
The Finance Minister believes that physical gambling venues, compared to online platforms, are less likely to cause public debt issues: "Offline casinos are not aimed at the general public, and the public does not frequent casinos often, it is not a popular behavior."
Haddad also emphasized that resort casinos are of strategic importance to Brazil's tourism industry: "Brazil has strong tourist attractions. Live gambling is usually located in scenic areas and combined with other tourist attractions, providing a unique experience for visitors. These casinos not only attract tourists but also promote related economic activities."
When discussing illegal gambling activities, Haddad pointed out that making Jogo do Bicho illegal actually benefits organized crime and hinders legitimate employment and tax creation.
Regarding the issue of online gambling addiction, the Finance Minister stated that part of the taxes will be specifically used for related treatments in the medical system: "We record the CPF (Individual Taxpayer Registry Number) of each gambler in the treasury. Currently, about 30 million Brazilians use CPF for gambling. Unfortunately, some people develop dependencies. For this reason, we invest gambling taxes in the medical sector to help these people."
Haddad's remarks indicate that the Brazilian government is exploring balancing the legalization of gambling with the protection of public health, while also viewing physical casinos as important tools for enhancing tourism and creating economic value.
