Senator Irajá (PSD-TO), rapporteur of the Casinos Bill, reported that the bill may be voted on in the plenary session in July. The proposal authorizes the operation of casinos, bingo, Jogo do Bicho and betting on horse racing. The bill was originally presented by federal deputy Renato Vianna (MDB-SC) in 1991.
Irajá stated: “The project is finally ready to be voted on in the Senate Plenary.” He also projected: “I think that by now, in the first half of the year, before the parliamentary recess, it is possible that we can vote on and approve this matter.”
Approval in the Chamber of Deputies
In 2022, the Chamber of Deputies approved the basic text of the project after 31 years of processing. At the time, the score was tight: 246 votes in favor and 202 against.
In November 2023, Irajá took over as rapporteur in the Senate’s Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ). After public hearings and debates, the final report was approved in June 2024, and will be forwarded to the Plenary for consideration.
At the end of 2024, the bill was included on the agenda, but was withdrawn due to lack of consensus. At that time, the Senate maintained two parliamentary commissions of inquiry to investigate fixed-odds sports betting. Despite dealing with different subjects, Irajá assessed that the CPIs negatively influenced the debate in the Plenary.
Irajá stated: “We made an assessment and understood that the environment was not conducive for us to discuss the matter and vote. Unfortunately, there was a storm that was happening due to this regulation of bets, and this inevitably ended up contaminating the environment for discussion of land-based gambling.”
He added: “Understanding that a calmer moment, a more neutral moment would be necessary for us to vote on him in the Plenary. I am absolutely convinced that now we have that environment.”
During the closing of the Bets CPI, rapporteur Soraya Thronicke (Podemos-MS) commented on the attempt to extend the commission. However, Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), who presides over the House, did not move forward with the request.
Public opinion boosts support for the Casinos Bill
According to Irajá, the population’s position on the issue directly influences the senators’ votes. DataSenado released a survey in April 2025, showing that 60% of those interviewed are in favor of the proposal. The survey interviewed 5,039 people by telephone between February 21 and March 1.
Before the research, the proposal already had favorable technical notes from public bodies and the private sector. On the Senate website, it is possible to find statements from the Association of City Halls of the Resort Cities of the State of São Paulo and the Brazilian Hotel Industry Association (ABIH), which support the project.
Irajá declared: “What crowned this work, in my humble opinion, was exactly this public opinion survey, which I confess to you, surprised me.”
He also highlighted: “This set of opera, public and private institutions and the favorable society, this is a tripod that is essential in forming the conviction of the senators who still had some doubt or fear in approving and supporting this project. Even because it is a pre-election year”.
Despite popular acceptance, part of the Senate remains against the project. In the CCJ, Senator Eduardo Girão presented a separate vote, criticizing the expansion of the legalization of gambling.
Irajá commented: “There are clearly opposing opinions, there is a position that I respect from the evangelical bench, which is a religious issue, not a rational issue.”
He continued: “It is an ideological position and people are against it just because they are against it and I obviously respect that. On the other hand, we have, in my view, a majority position of fellow senators who defend the project, who understand that Brazil is facing a great opportunity to boost national tourism.”
Final report of the Bets CPI may hinder the progress of the Casinos Bill
Other members of parliament also spoke out against the proposal, such as Senator Izalci Lucas (PL-DF). In an interview with ND Mais, he stated: “I think the report from the CPI das Bets will compromise this project now.”
Izalci presented amendments to the project and proposed including lottery houses as permitted locations for the installation of slot machines.
With a liberal profile in economics, he usually supports agendas related to market opening and financial oversight. However, after actively participating in the Bets CPI and presenting a complementary report, his position changed. Izalci stated: “The economic result of this does not really cover the social costs.
Although he acknowledges that the Casino Bill has differences in relation to sports betting, Izalci advocates greater repression and oversight. He is “definitely against any kind of gambling”.
Rapporteur defends the Casinos Bill and talks about gambling addiction
On the other hand, Irajá argues that the project has safer mechanisms in relation to the bettor’s health, compared to the rules of sports betting.
Irajá explained: “When it comes to gambling addiction, there are two aspects to be considered. First, it is not possible to use a credit card or any type of financing method. It is only possible to use Pix or debit cards. This already prevents [indebtedness].
The second aspect is the creation of a single registry, which is a kind of Serasa. Compulsive gamblers, those players who for some reason gamble excessively, will be registered there.”
Just as happened in the Chamber, the project’s articulators have been acting cautiously in the Senate. The goal is to prevent the proposal, presented more than 30 years ago, from being shelved. According to Irajá, the report may undergo adjustments if other senators present new amendments.
Finally, Irajá concluded: “The debate will not end here. We have sessions until July.” He reinforced: “We need to enter the next semester with this project already approved, if possible sanctioned by the President of the Republic, because we still have a year that is foreseen in the project for its regulation”.
