This Wednesday (04), the Federal Senate will vote on a bill on the legalization of casinos, bingos and Jogo do Bicho in Brazil. But, despite intense debates, the proposal may be postponed once again.
The president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, seeks to complete the vote by the 10th. But the Ministry of Finance wants the inclusion of a clause that would require an interval of at least one year between regulation and implementation of the law. This would give companies time to adapt.
Legalization of casinos advances in parallel with sports betting
While the debate over physical games continues in Congress, the government is moving forward in regulating sports betting. Recently, the Treasury created a Betting and Prizes Secretariat and published ordinances detailing the rules for companies that will operate in the country.
Therefore, from January 1, 2025, the regulated online betting market will come into force in Brazil. On the topic, a member of the economic team was clear: “the rules need to be defined before the game starts”.
Thus, the text being processed in the Senate, reported by Senator Irajá (PSD-TO), attributes control and authorization of betting houses to the Ministry of Finance. Although the most recent opinion is from June, the project is ready for a vote in the plenary.
Therefore, the proposal foresees that casinos operate exclusively in integrated leisure complexes or vessels built for this purpose. These complexes should include:
- High-end hotels, with at least 100 rooms;
- Spaces for large cultural, social or artistic events;
- Restaurants, bars and shopping centers.
But the government will limit the number of casinos based on each state’s population:
- Up to 15 million inhabitants: 1 casino;
- Between 15 and 25 million: 2 casinos;
- Over 25 million: 3 casinos.
Furthermore, the government may authorize casinos on river vessels in the national territory.
Specific rules for bingo and Jogo do Bicho
For bingos, the proposal conditions operation on the existence of at least 250 seats for card bingo. Each municipality will be able to have one bingo house for every 150 thousand inhabitants.
So, in the case of Jogo do Bicho, the project limits accreditation to one operator for every 700,000 inhabitants in each state or the Federal District. In Rio de Janeiro, for example, with a population of 16 million inhabitants, up to 22 companies could be authorized.
Legalization of casinos and its economic impacts
Senators in favor of the project argue that, with the expansion of online betting, it is strategic to invest in casinos as part of large luxury resorts. They also highlight the potential for job creation and tax revenue with the legalization of gaming.
In short, discussions continue at a fast pace and gaming regulation can bring significant changes to the entertainment scenario and Brazilian economy. The iGaming and sports betting market, already expanding, could soon be boosted.
