According to the President of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), Congress will schedule, before the July recess, the urgency and vote on the bill that regulates bingo, casinos and the Jogo do Bicho.
The proposal has been in the works for over a decade and has already been approved by the Chamber of Deputies. If it is also voted on and approved by the Senate, it will be sent to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for approval.
Press reports confirm that once the proposal reaches the Planalto Palace, it will be guaranteed approval. There will be no resistance from the government.
This is because, in addition to the forecast of raising up to R$20 billion per year in taxes, the justification is the creation of 1 million jobs. Recently, Data Senado conducted a survey, revealing that the electorate is in favor of legalizing gambling.
Thus, the Senate survey, with five thousand people, indicated that there is no significant resistance on the part of the population.
Gamblers will not be able to play online
The vote comes at a time when the effects of online gaming are under discussion and under siege in the Senate. However, the rapporteur, Senator Irajá (PSD-TO), argues that, unlike bsportsbooks, this type of gambling cannot be online.
Casinos will only be allowed to operate within resorts, limited to one per state. With the exception of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Amazonas and Bahia, which will be allowed to have two or three, due to the size of their territories. Gamblers will not be able to make payments via Pix or cash, only via cards.
In the case of the animal game, its operation will depend on government authorization.
Senator Irajá is the rapporteur of the Casinos Bill
The bill’s rapporteur, Senator Irajá, commented on the work that has been done to ensure its approval. “We are working to ensure that the Responsible Gaming and Integrated Resorts Bill (No. 2234/22) is voted on and approved this semester.”
“The project does not address so-called ‘bets’ or online betting, which already have specific legislation in progress. PL 2234 creates a safe, controlled model with strict compliance requirements, capable of attracting investments, generating jobs and strengthening national tourism,” he said.
In addition to being one of the main advocates for the legalization of casinos in Brazil, the senator has been talking to the gaming industry. In the last year, he has spent at least 16 days outside the country, participating in events in the casino and betting industry. In 2024, Irajá was in Lisbon (Portugal), Florida (USA) and Malta (an island in the Mediterranean).
