The Senate plenary rejected on Wednesday (17) the urgency request for voting on the bill on gambling, called the Casino Bill. The senators set the score at 36 votes to 28.
The proposal authorizes the operation of land-based casinos and bingo halls in Brazil. The text also legalizes the jogo do bicho (a type of lottery) and allows betting on horse races.
The decision determines that the matter will now follow the ordinary procedural pace in the House. The president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre, announced the vote at the beginning of the last deliberative session of the year.
Bill PL 2.234/2022 has been under consideration in the Senate since 2022, and the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) approved the text on June 19, 2024.
How did the proposal go through the legislative process?
The proposal has been awaiting a vote in the Plenary ever since. Representative Renato Vianna presented the original bill in the Chamber back in 1991. The rapporteur, Senator Irajá (PSD-TO), issued a favorable opinion on the text previously approved by the representatives. He accepted suggested amendments and proposed adjustments to the final wording.
Lawmakers opposed to the bill strongly criticize the measure. The evangelical caucus highlights, above all, risks such as the encouragement of gambling and crimes of money laundering, trafficking, and prostitution. Senator Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE) stated: “The matter is controversial.”
Senator Weverton (PDT-MA), however, defended the vote on the bill. He highlighted the tourism potential and tax revenue.
Weverton stated: “I find it hypocritical that a country the size of Brazil has so many tourist areas, like Maranhão [for casino activity]. I’m not an addict or a gambler. A physical casino, with rules, will leave taxes in my state, and I’m going to say I’m against it? We need to review the rules for online casinos, [and not for physical casinos, which have strict access and gaming rules].”
Lula announces the resignation of the Minister of Tourism, who supports the project to legalize casinos.
The federal government also confirmed changes in the management of national tourism this Wednesday (17).
The announcement was made during the ministerial meeting. Gustavo Feliciano, in turn, is expected to assume the position. He is the son of federal deputy Damião Feliciano (União Brasil-PB) and served as Secretary of Tourism and Economic Development of Paraíba.
The change in leadership of the ministry seeks to secure the support of the pro-government wing of União Brasil. The party maintains a faction closer to the Presidential Palace, although it maintains a position of distancing itself from the Lula government. This strategy aims to guarantee important support for the 2026 elections.
