Senator Jayme Campos (União-MT) gave an exclusive interview to the iGaming Brazil portal, in which he discussed the bill (PL 2234/2022) that provides for the release of casinos, bingos and other types of games in Brazil.
The proposal was approved in the Chamber of Deputies in early 2022 and has been pending in the Senate since then. According to the senator, the activity is currently operated in a “clandestine manner. That’s a fact. Simply banning – as is already the case today – will not stop the games. There is, consequently, a strong call for its regulation”, he stressed.
Furthermore, Jayme Campos highlighted that tourism tends to be boosted with the opening of casinos in resorts. “The numbers involving gaming activity make it clear that casinos in resorts will, in fact, attract more investment and, consequently, generate more jobs and improve income”, he added.
However, he considered that the Senate is taking due care “with a view to improving the text and formalizing the guarantees that a project of this magnitude requires”.
Complete interview with Senator Jayme Campos:
iGaming Brazil: The Cassinos Bill has been pending in the Senate for more than two years after its approval in the Chamber. Can we be convinced that it will be considered in the House Plenary later this year?
Senator Jayme Campos: The entire agenda depends exclusively on the president’s decision, which includes the project for voting based on prior discussion with the bench leaders. This project reached the plenary and, in agreement, it was established that it would be taken up for debate in the Economic Affairs Committee, where it was evaluated.
Several public hearings and thematic sessions have already taken place. This is a comprehensive and extremely complex proposal. It will certainly come to a deliberation at the appropriate time, but it is impossible now to specify a date or deadline.
iGaming Brazil: Is there an expectation of approval of the project and all the gaming modalities mentioned? Or can some modalities be removed from the text to facilitate approval?
Senator Jayme Campos: As I said previously, everything will depend on understanding between the leaders. It is possible that some things will be put up for discussion in plenary, by highlighting amendments. Either way, it is a process of understanding. What we know for sure is that there is a diversity of opinions – for and against in full or in part.
iGaming Brazil: Is there already a behind-the-scenes debate between senators to speed up the voting process?
Senator Jayme Campos: The PL proposes a regulatory framework that includes rules for gaming operations, limits on the number of establishments and inspection mechanisms. These are aspects that deserve very careful analysis. The rapporteur, Senator Irajá, has been working intensely to get the matter voted on. However, its complexity requires caution and conviction. Steps are being sold.
iGaming Brazil: Considering a favorable scenario of presidential approval and sanction in 2024, what steps would the country need to take to return to having bingos and casinos in resorts?
Senator Jayme Campos: This PL actually has advantages and risks. One of the concerns is, in fact, the historical association between money laundering and gambling, although the pure and simple prohibition does not extinguish the practice of gambling.
So, in this way, it is necessary to convince to approve this project and this will only be possible with the demonstration that adequate measures will be taken so that the search for regulation of the activity excludes potential risks.
iGaming Brazil: Does the senator believe that the country is mature enough for this resumption of casinos and bingos to be seen as a boost for the national economy and tourism?
Senator Jayme Campos: This activity is currently explored clandestinely. That’s a fact. As I said, simply banning – as is already the case today – will not stop the games. There is, consequently, a strong appeal for its regulation, in order to allow the Brazilian State to have control over the activity and, with this, direct the gains to society, since we are talking about a universe in the order of tens of billions in movement. But, like everything, there needs to be light behind the risks.
iGaming Brazil: The world sees Brazil as having enormous potential yet to be explored in the gaming industry. Does the senator see that casinos in resorts can help bring significant investments from abroad?
Senator Jayme Campos: Brazil is an immense country, with tourism potential that could grow four, five, six times more than it is today. The numbers involving gaming activity make it clear that casinos in resorts will, in fact, attract more investment, consequently, more jobs and improved income.
But it is important to highlight that the Senate is taking all necessary precautions. Suffice it to say that there are more than 50 amendments presented with the aim of improving the text and establishing the guarantees that a project of this magnitude requires.
