The Chamber of Deputies approved Bill 442/1991 earlier this year. The approved PL aims to legalize and regulate the gambling market. With this, the construction of resort casinos would be possible once again after a long period of prohibition.
Expectations for the project to be voted on in 2022 were high, however, due to this year’s elections and the change of President of the Republic, we have a considerable change in the scenario. Going beyond the election of Lula, the Federal Senate itself received a major change in relation to the names elected in 2018.
Conservative bench is majority in congress
With the end of the elections for the Federal Senate, we had a significant change in the composition of this public body. The Liberal Party (PL) won the largest bench to govern over the next 4 years – in total, there will be 14 party senators.
The second party with the most names in the Federal Senate will be the PSD – with 11 senators. The Workers’ Party (PT) will be third with 9 seats. This great change in the scenario will represent a new challenge to PL 442/1991, which will be discussed and approved by the senators.
Jair Messias Bolsonaro – until then President of the Republic – has already announced his intention to veto the project if it reaches approval. Such a measure gives us a preview of what to expect from the Liberal Party, which may be contrary to the approval of the project.
Furthermore, the PL is the opposition party to the PT – the party of president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Thus, opponents are likely to be even more firm in their position against approving the games.
President-elect has not yet declared himself in favor of gambling
Lula has not yet declared whether he will be in favor or against the legalization of gambling. According to interviews and participation in meetings with the tourism and hotel sector, the president-elect would be more favorable to the legalization of the PL with a focus on access to the revenues that this approval can generate.
According to estimates, the amount of revenue generated with the collection of taxes from gambling can exceed R$ 20 billion. This would represent a fundamental source of funds for the PT government to offer the social programs promised in its campaign.
Now the Brazilian tourist sector and betting fans are anxiously awaiting the approval of PL 442/1991 – which will bring great benefits to our country.
