One of the main evangelical politicians in Rio de Janeiro, former governor Anthony Garotinho, took a stand this Wednesday, December 22, in favor of the law that authorizes the opening of casinos in Brazil.
The law is defended and expected in virtually all sectors of the economy in Rio de Janeiro and has been pushed by some of the most engaged civil society groups in Rio, such as Rio Vamos Vencer and Coalizão Rio.
According to Garotinho, there would not be a single mention in the Bible about casinos. Graduated in theology, he said that there is not a single verse in the Bible that talks about against gambling.
The former governor and former mayor of Campos says that the Bible says “Everything is allowed, but not everything suits him” and advises Christians not to be like the Pharisees, who claim to be religious and are not.
The politician continues by saying, “God doesn’t like you to go to unhealthy environments. If you think that environment is not healthy, don’t go”, and he says more, not to “put God in the middle in something that has nothing to do”.
The father of federal deputy Clarissa Garotinho knows that his opinion will not please everyone, but he prefers that people know what he thinks and asks arguments for those who are against.
The casino market has potential for Brazil
According to him, Brazil could collect at least R$29 billion a year with taxes on allowed gambling, thus having much more resources available for important programs such as Auxílio Brasil.
The estimate is that the Casinos could generate up to 200 thousand new jobs. He also recalls that a lot is said in Brazil that gambling is not legal, but there is an animal stand on every street corner, and he even mentions the traditional Silvio Santos program as a kind of game.
For him, those who are not poor will play in casinos; and he makes fun of anyone who claims that casinos will be used to launder money: in our country, for him, it would be the banks that launder the money.
