The Senate’s Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) has a meeting scheduled for this Wednesday (17), at 10am. There are 20 items on the agenda, including a project that could promote the resumption of casinos in Brazil (PL 2,234/2022).
The proposal, by former deputy Renato Vianna (MDB-SC), aims to expand the range of games allowed in the country, including land-based casinos and bingos, in addition to legalizing gambling and allowing betting on horse races.
The rapporteur, senator Irajá (PSD-TO), is in favor of the matter.
Casinos can benefit tourism in Brazil
The project authorizes the installation of casinos in tourist centers or integrated leisure complexes. But there would be a limit of one casino per state and in the Federal District, with exceptions for:
- São Paulo, which can have up to three casinos
- Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Amazonas and Pará, which can have two casinos each
The proposal also allows gaming houses to operate on sea and river vessels, according to specific rules.
Therefore, to be accredited, the casino must demonstrate a minimum paid-up share capital of at least R$100 million and be able to operate for 30 years.
Bingos
The text also establishes rules for the game of bingo, both card and electronic. Each state will also be able to accredit a legal entity to operate the jogo do bicho, respecting the proportion of one for every 700 thousand inhabitants. But in this case, the authorizations would be valid for 25 years, renewable for the same period.
Tourist entities accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture could explore horse racing and, at the same time, operate bingo and video bingo games.
In his report, Irajá discarded the idea that gambling games offend morals and good customs, an argument often used against them.
He highlighted that the project aims to bring under State control a practice that is currently considered a misdemeanor. In other words, after presenting statistics on the betting market, legal or illegal, Irajá concluded that “betting games already constitute a relevant economic activity”.
Therefore, the rapporteur rejected the amendments offered by the senators and proposed a wording amendment replacing the mentions of the “Ministry of Economy” with “Ministry of Finance”.
