Parliamentarians linked to the Interdenominational Council of Evangelical Ministers of Brazil (CIMEB) are working against the bill that legalizes bingo, casinos and Jogo do Bicho in the country.
They recently released a public letter stating that they will expose the names of the senators who are in favor of the proposal in the vote in Congress. The proposal is currently being processed in the Federal Senate.
In the document entitled “Letter of Repudiation of the Approval of Gambling”, evangelical parliamentarians list a series of arguments against the regulation of casinos and bingo in the country.
These include the risk of family debt, increased crime and negative impacts on the population’s mental health. In addition, they mention the possibility of misappropriation of funds and money laundering.
“There is a technical opinion from the Federal Police, the Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Revenue Service against the approval of this bill,” the pastors state. Therefore, the text has the signatures of leaders such as Silas Malafaia, Estevam Hernandes, Robson Rodovalho, César Augusto and other prominent figures in the evangelical community.
According to these parliamentarians, the letter will be forwarded to senators and used to mobilize believers and religious leaders across the country.
President Lula is in favor of the project that legalizes casinos and bingo in Brazil
The bill that legalizes bingo, casinos and Jogo do Bicho in the country faces ideological resistance from senators linked to conservative agendas. The proposal authorizes the installation of casinos in tourist centers and integrated leisure complexes, in addition to repealing the law that has criminalized the Jogo do Bicho since 1946.
The bill has the support of the government, which sees the measure as a potential source of revenue. In June of last year, President Lula confirmed that he would sanction the proposal if approved by Congress.
Senator Irajá (PSD-TO), rapporteur of the Casinos Bill, stated that the project could be included in the Plenary’s agenda in July. “The project is finally ready to be voted on in the Senate Plenary.”
He also projected: “I think that until now in the first semester, before the parliamentary recess, it is possible that we can vote and approve this matter”.
