The City Hall of Olímpia, a city in the interior of São Paulo, has officially approved a bill that classifies gambling as a “public service of significant tourist and social interest”, especially when carried out in casinos integrated into high-end resorts. The legislation, sanctioned by Mayor Eugenio Zuliani (União), was published in the city’s Official Gazette on May 14.
The municipal administration took the initiative to regulate gaming even before federal approval, linking the effectiveness of the local law to Bill 2,234/2022. This federal bill, which authorizes the operation of casinos and bingo halls and legalizes the jogo do bicho, was passed by the Senate’s Constitution and Justice Committee in June last year, but is still awaiting a vote in plenary.
The new legislation in Olímpia connects the exploitation of games to the city’s tourism sector, which attracts approximately 5 million visitors annually. The city has the second largest hotel network in the state, offering 35 thousand hotel beds and two water parks.
According to the law, services related to the exploitation of gambling include:
- The installation and operation of casinos integrated into tourist developments
- The operation of regulated games such as roulette, cards, electronic games and similar
- Complementary services focused on recreation, gastronomy, accommodation, culture and entertainment
Furthermore, the legislation allows the concession of these services to the private sector, through a bidding process in the form of competitive dialogue.
Geninho Zuliani, the city’s mayor, stated: “We are preparing for a new cycle of development. We want to attract high-end developments, generate jobs, boost the economy and consolidate Olímpia as the most complete tourist destination in the country.”
The federal project related to casinos
The proposal currently being processed in the Senate authorizes the installation of casinos in tourist centers or leisure complexes, such as luxury hotels with at least 100 rooms, resorts, restaurants and bars.
According to the bill, each state and the Federal District will be allowed to have one casino. However, São Paulo will be allowed to have up to three establishments, while Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Amazonas and Pará will be allowed to have up to two each. This differentiation is based on the size of the population or territory.
The text also provides for the installation of up to ten casinos on maritime vessels that have at least 50 rooms. For rivers, there are specific criteria:
- A casino on every river between 1,500 and 2,500 kilometers long
- Two on each river with a length of between 2,500 and 3,500 kilometers
- Three on each river over 3,500 kilometers long
Vessels with casinos may remain anchored in the same location for up to 30 days. For bingo, the rule establishes the operation of one establishment for every 150 thousand inhabitants, while for jogo do bicho, the proportion is one for every 700 thousand inhabitants.
Finally, the bill also determines that payments must be made exclusively via Pix or debit card, prohibiting the use of credit cards. Institutions that fail to comply with this rule may face criminal sanctions. The expectation is that the Casinos Bill will be voted on in the Senate soon.
