The addition of online casinos to the sports betting regulation bill (PL) is the main point of disagreement among parliamentarians in the Senate.
It was because of the lack of agreement on this part of the PL that the vote was postponed again. The expectation is that the senators will reach an agreement so that it can be voted on this Tuesday, 12th.
The initial project, sent by the Federal Government, included only sports betting – authorized in 2018. However, deputy Adolfo Viana (PSDB-BA) included in the text the possibility of legalizing fixed-odd online games in the Chamber of Deputies.
The project was approved in the Chamber of Deputies, but has faced resistance in the Senate. Opposition parliamentarians claim that online casinos bring a ‘social cost’ to Brazil, and the project does not detail how supervision will be carried out.
Therefore, some senators support the idea that the project be divided, without the sections that mention online casinos.
Project rapporteur defends inclusion of online casinos
On the other hand, the project’s rapporteur, Angelo Coronel (PSD-BA), criticizes the resistance to the project and said that the attitude is “moralistic”. He clarifies that the proposal contributes to ending ‘clandestinity’.
“The project was created simply with the aim of regulating the games that have been played in Brazil for many months without leaving a cent of revenue for the Union’s coffers.”
“So, it’s about ending the clandestinity and collecting taxes, which will benefit the government’s social programs,” he said.
Regulation of the sector is urgent. “Currently, people pick up a cell phone and play whatever they want anywhere in the world via the internet,” said lawyer Fabiano Jantalia, specialized in sports gaming law.
“So, the starting point is that we need to understand that gambling is a reality, and until we discipline this, we will not have tax collection or protection for players.”
“Therefore, we need to be pragmatic and protective. Without this, we will continue to deny reality”, concluded Jantalia.
