Deputy Jorge Goetten (PL/SC) participated in a public hearing that discussed the regulation of sports betting in the country. The meeting took place at the Finance and Taxation Committee of the Chamber of Deputies last week.
The debate included representatives from the sports betting sector, operators, Brazilian bettors, the Ministry of Finance and parliamentarians.
Deputy Jorge Goetten defends the criminalization of illegal gambling
During the public hearing, the deputy from Santa Catarina made a speech to the effect that it is necessary to promote the regularization of the gambling market in the country. “Gambling is everywhere: online, casino, bingos. We are only going to bring to legality what is already practiced without any rules. We are going to create jobs in the sector”, he declared.
According to federal government estimates, betting regulation should move around 6 billion reais per year in revenue. “Including the criminalization of illegal gambling in the discussion is as important as legalizing gambling, otherwise it will be a waste of time, serious businessmen will give up”, pondered deputy Jorge Goetten.
It is important to point out that the Marco Legal dos Jogos – bill that aims to release games such as bingos, casinos and jogo do bicho – was approved in the Chamber of Deputies at the beginning of last year. Now, the proposal is being debated in the Senate and supporters understand that the measure can help boost the economy and tourism in the country.
Several parliamentarians participated in the public hearing
Deputy Júnior Mano (PL-CE), who asked for the debate, recalled that the Temer government enacted Law 13.756/18, which governs the permission for the operation of popular foreign betting sites in the country.
Still according to him, the big bookmakers receive a high volume of money and, consequently, a significant profit. The deputy pointed out that the purpose of the hearing was to analyze the proposal of the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, who on March 1st said that Brazil should tax sports betting.
During the debate, deputies Bacelar (PV-BA), Newton Cardoso Jr. (MDB-MG), Thiago de Joaldo (PP-SE) and Vermelho (PL-PR) recalled that the Chamber has already approved a proposal that legalizes all gambling in Brazil. In the Senate, where it will still be analyzed, Bill 442/91 is being processed as PL 2234/22.
In addition to representatives of other business entities in the lottery sector and also of players, the Finance and Taxation Commission, chaired by deputy Paulo Guedes (PT-MG), participated in the debate in the Finance and Taxation Commission, deputies Luiz Lima (PL-RJ), Merlong Solano ( PT-PI) and Wellington Roberto (PL-PB).
