The Chamber of Deputies approved, by 246 votes to 202, the basic text of the bill that legalizes gambling in Brazil, such as casinos, bingos, animal games and online games, through licenses on a permanent basis or for a determined period. . Then the session was terminated.
Starting this Thursday (24), the Plenary can vote on the highlights presented by the parties in an attempt to make changes to the opinion of Deputy Felipe Carreras (PSB-PE) for Bill 442/91.
According to the text, the casinos may be installed in resorts as part of an integrated leisure complex that must contain at least 100 high-end hotel rooms, meeting and event venues, restaurants, bars and shopping centers.
The physical space of the casino must be, at most, equal to 20% of the complex’s built-up area, and electronic and roulette, card games and other authorized modalities can be explored.
In order to determine the places where casinos can be opened, the Executive Branch must consider the existence of tourist heritage and the economic and social potential of the region.
There may be three casinos when the state’s population is greater than 25 million (only São Paulo, according to IBGE’s 2021 estimate).
For states with more than 15 million and up to 25 million, there may be two casinos (in the case of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro). In other states and in the Federal District, with a population of up to 15 million inhabitants, there may be only one casino.
Each economic group may hold only one concession per state, and accreditation will be done through a public auction in the technical and price modality.
Additionally, the Executive Branch may grant the operation of casinos in leisure complexes to up to two establishments in states with a dimension greater than 1 million square km.
Touristic cities
In locations classified as tourist centers or destinations, the installation of a casino will be allowed, regardless of the population density of the state in which they are located.
The proposal defines these places as those that have a regional identity, adequate infrastructure and offer of tourist services, high density of tourists and title of natural heritage of humanity, in addition to having tourism as an important economic activity.
A tourist casino cannot be located less than 100 km away from any casino integrated into a leisure complex.
Ships
New in relation to previous versions of the text is the operation of casinos on river vessels, one for each river with 1,500 km to 2,500 km in length; two for each river with a length between 2,500 km and 3,500 km; and three per river with a length greater than 3,500 km.
These vessels may not be anchored in the same location for more than 30 consecutive days, and the concession may be for up to ten establishments.
These ships must have a minimum of 50 high-end rooms, restaurants and bars and shopping centers, as well as venues for events and meetings.
Bingo
In the case of bingo, the text allows its permanent exploitation only in bingo houses, allowing municipalities and the Federal District to explore these games in stadiums with a capacity of over 15 thousand fans.
Bingo houses must have a minimum capital of R$ 10 million and be located in places with a minimum area of 1,500 square meters, where up to 400 video bingo machines can also be located, but slot machines will be prohibited.
According to the text, at most one bingo house will be accredited for every 150,000 inhabitants.
Licensed places will have a 25-year authorization, renewable for an equal period.
Jogo do Bicho
For the legalization of the Jogo do Bicho, the text requires that all the licensee’s records, whether of betting or extraction, be computerized and with the possibility of access in real time (online) by the Union, through the Audit System and Control (SAC).
Interested parties must present a minimum share capital of R$ 10 million and reserve funds in guarantee for the payment of obligations and duties stipulated in the project, except for the award, which may be in the form of a cash guarantee, insurance guarantee or bank guarantee.
Accreditation will be for a period of 25 years, renewable for an equal period if the requirements are met.
There may be, at most, one operator of this game for every 700 thousand inhabitants of the state or DF. In those with less than 700 thousand inhabitants, there should only be one accredited for the animal game.
Redemption of prizes up to the Income Tax exemption limit will not require identification of the player.
Temporary operation
If, after 12 months of validity of the future law, there is no regulation, the provisional operation of video-bingo, bingo and animal game will be authorized throughout the national territory until the regulation is released.
