In “A Pandemia e o Jogo” picturesque stories from the world of casinos appear, such as, for example, a dialogue between a plebeian croupier and King Humberto of Italy, monarch. This and many others appear in the book just released in Portugal and which is now available in Brazil.
Gambling inspector at Casinos in Portugal, lawyer José Pereira Deus is a Master in Management and Tourism. He graduated in Law and has a Postgraduate Degree in Communication Law. Lecturer on topics such as Gambling Law and Tourism, he has taught several courses on this subject, and is co-author of the first book on gambling in Portugal, in 2001.
iGaming Brazil brings the exclusive interview. Check out:
iGaming Brazil – José, what is the book about?
José Pereira Deus -“A Pandemia e o Jogo” addresses and describes “The main steps in the regulation of land-based gambling”, makes a historical description of Portuguese Casinos: from the Casino of the Azores to the Casino of Madeira, from the Casino of Póvoa de Varzim to the Casino de Espinho, from the Casino da Figueira da Foz to the Casinos Estoril and Lisbon – whose concessions ended on 12/31/2020, but due to the pandemic situation they were extended (and for now) until the end of 2022 -, to the most recent Casinos de Chaves and Casino de Troia, passing, further south, the Casinos of Monte Gordo, Vilamoura and Praia da Rocha, whose concessions will expire on 12/31/2023. It also addresses the theme of “Women in the Game in Portugal”.
It contains a set of picturesque stories from the world of casinos, from which I highlight a delicious dialogue between the croupier Zé Maria, a commoner, and King Humberto of Italy, monarch, exiled in Cascais and a regular at Casino Estoril, during the period of World War II. . And it also includes:
– An analysis of the historical evolution of the entertainment component of “Shows and Entertainment”, a differentiating factor for casinos in Portugal;
– A chapter on Responsible Gaming – which aims to ensure player safety, making them responsible;
– A description of the historical evolution of Social Games, operated by Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa: Lottery, Totobola, Totoloto, Instant Lottery (aka Scratchcard), Joker and Euromillions.
Not without forgetting, of course, the very current issue of gambling regulation in Brazil.
And it ends with a reflection on the Online Game, the Territorial Base Game and the effects of the Pandemic.
iGaming Brazil – When was your book released?
José Pereira Deus – The book was released in late October 2021, at Cassino Figueira (Figueira da Foz). Meanwhile, Casino Estoril also wanted to host the presentation of the book last December.
In a ceremony held at the Art Gallery of Cassino Estoril, the work, published by “Lisbon Press International”, was analyzed by the author and by a distinguished panel of speakers who also debated the current moment and the new challenges of the gambling sector at the national level. and international.
Jorge Godinho, Associate Professor at ISMAT – Instituto Superior Manuel Teixeira Gomes, made some general considerations about the book “A Pandemia e o Jogo”. “It is very rare to launch this type of work related to the game in a broad sense, whether territorially based or online. The book is an important contribution to the study of this industry and to the debates on these issues, it is written in an objective, direct style, it is yet another important testimony regarding this industry”.
iGaming Brazil – Why did the author choose this theme?
José Pereira Deus – During the pandemic, I thought it would be interesting and important to organize a debate on its effects, on the future of the sector, and on possible models that we can consider for the future. And nothing better than a book with these characteristics to provide and stimulate this debate. Which I think has effectively been achieved and that has already had two high moments.
The first with the launch at sFigueira, and the second with the presentation session at Casino Estoril. The book contributes, I believe, to stimulating debate on essential issues for this economic activity. I sincerely hope that this debate will continue and now with an additional reason of interest, which is the major theme of the regulation that is operating in Brazil.
iGaming Brazil – What does the author think of the imminent legalization of gambling in Brazil, if it will be beneficial and in what sense for Brazil?
José Pereira Deus – Supporters of the liberalization of the gambling market argue that it is an activity with enormous potential for creating jobs and wealth and, consequently, for the country’s development.
Brazil is a country with a strong tourist vocation. The regulation of gambling, namely for their exploitation in leisure projects, will contribute to the urgent need for economic activity to resume. Overcoming the calamitous situation that Brazil and all of us have gone through with the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be essential to revive Tourism. There are many billions of reais that move in illegal bets in the country, with significant losses for public coffers.
The current debate in Brazil, with the due historical and conjunctural differences, does not fail to find some similarities with the debate that took place in Portugal since the end of the 19th century. 19th and early 20th century, which culminated in the regulatory law of 1927. 1st Law of Gambling in Portugal.
The Portuguese Minister of Finance, in 1915, Tomás Cabreira, used arguments that were similar to those used today in Brazil by defenders of liberalization: tax collection, increase in the existence of jobs and, the key idea: channeling to public and social purposes for the benefit of the community, resources that were totally wasted because they were outside the law. And also the development of tourist areas with tighter regulation of the operation of casinos in these gambling areas.
The current moment is more opportune, just as big decisions are always opportune in times of major economic and financial crises. And this discussion should be transversal to all game modes. In my opinion, a good regulation of games will provide a greater collection of direct taxes, as well as all the consequences and indirect economic benefits resulting therefrom.
iGaming Brazil – Compared to the situation in Portugal that has legalized gambling for a long time and how does that help the country?
José Pereira Deus – The public tourism activity in Portugal is mostly financed by taxes levied on gambling revenue generated in casinos. In other words, Tourism is the privileged beneficiary of the so-called initial and annual compensation from the exploitation of games of chance, including naturally the IEJ – Special Tax on Gaming. And this situation is only possible because, in light of the current system for the concession of gambling areas, almost all of the initial and annual contributions paid to the State by the concessionary companies are destined exclusively for tourism, which also happens with 80% of the special tax on gambling. This circumstance has enabled the implementation of public policies and the consequent financing of projects of tourist interest, independently of the other sectors of activity and, not least, outside the financial constraints of the State Budget (OE).
Gambling in casinos has thus constituted a very important instrument for financing and developing tourism in Portugal. It is estimated that around 80% of the sources of funding for Turismo de Portugal come from the so-called initial and annual counterparts (IEJ, etc.)
From 2015 onwards, with the regulation of online gambling in Portugal, and consequently with the collection of greater revenues for the public coffers, this relationship between gambling and tourism was even more accentuated.
iGaming Brazil – What projects do you have for this year 2022 and 2023, more books?
José Pereira Deus – There are many projects, although the time available is scarce, as I am still active as a gambling inspector, in the Portuguese Regulator. These are projects that involve some more time-consuming research and for which it would be necessary to find myself almost exclusively dedicated to it. Let’s see what the future will bring us.
To purchase the book, go to:
Portugal: https://www.livrariaatlantico.com/lisbon-press/a-pandemia-e-o-jogo.
