The Ministry of Justice and Public Security presented a proposal to double the percentage of resources allocated to the National Public Security Fund (FNSP) from the collection provided for in the bill that aims to legalize casinos, bingos and other types of physical games in Brazil.
The suggestion is contained in a technical note prepared by the National Public Security Secretariat (Senasp). Specifically, the proposal aims to increase the portion directed to the fund from 6% to 12%.
Meanwhile, the bill in question awaits a vote in the Senate plenary. Previously, the proposal was approved by the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ).
Furthermore, the text establishes that companies in the sector must pay a tax rate of 17% on revenue obtained from games. However, this rate will only be applied after deducting the prizes paid to bettors.
The text provides that the money raised will be allocated to areas such as public security, basic education, sports clubs and social actions.
Understand the proposal that could change the Casinos PL
The Ministry of Justice justifies the proposal to increase the transfer to the FNSP. Specifically, it argues that the possible approval of the bill will expand the scope of action of public security bodies.
Consequently, this expansion will imply an increase in public spending. Furthermore, the ministry states that the legalization of physical games will affect procedural legislation.
In turn, this change in legislation will directly impact the performance of police institutions. Notably, this impact will be felt in several areas of research.
The Ministry of Justice, in a technical note, states: “The bill, despite presenting positive points for society in general, will also have significant impacts on public security.
Therefore, to cope with the increase in shares, it is necessary that the percentage to be distributed to the National Public Security Fund be renegotiated, going from 6% to 12%”.
The bill currently being processed in the National Congress authorizes the operation of casinos, Jogo do Bicho and other types of gaming. The discussion about the release of these games has been going on for more than 30 years, facing resistance from the evangelical group and other conservative sectors.
However, the scenario has changed in recent years, with the intensification of international lobbying and promises of billion-dollar investments in Brazil, in addition to the increase in tax collection.
Original proposal
The original proposal was created in 1991 by former deputy Renato Vianna (MDB-SC). Initially, it was limited to repealing decrees from the 1940s that made gambling a misdemeanor.
Later, in 2022, the leadership of the Chamber of Deputies made an important decision and decided to expand the scope of the project. Consequently, this expansion included the legalization of other prohibited games, including casinos and bingos.
The current text of the project establishes that Jogo do Bicho is no longer considered a criminal misdemeanor and becomes legal, limiting, however, the installation of one Jogo do Bicho to every 700,000 inhabitants per state. If the project is approved in the Senate, it will be sanctioned by President Lula (PT), who has already committed to endorsing the measure.
The Ministry of Justice informed, in a note, that it is internally analyzing the matter, considering the impacts of the legalization of gambling on the country’s public security. “The decisions will be announced in due course, as soon as they are defined,” stated the ministry.
