Brazil Senate to Vote on Land-Based Casinos This Week

Brazil Senate to Vote on Land-Based Casino Legalization

Brazil’s long-awaited decision on legalizing land-based casinos could finally be reached this week. The Brazil Senate is scheduled to vote on the matter this Tuesday.

While Brazil recently launched licensed online gambling on January 1st, the bill to legalize physical casinos has faced numerous delays, despite prior approval from the Justice and Citizenship Committee.

However, it now appears that bill PL 2,234/2022, will be presented to the Senate for a vote, as Senate President Davi Alcolumbre has listed it as item four on the voting agenda for the July 8th session.

If the Senate approves the bill, it will then be submitted to Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, for final approval. Current expectations suggest the president will not oppose the policy.

General Support for Land-Based Casinos in Brazil

The launch of the licensed online sector has faced criticism, with concerns raised about its potential impact on addiction rates and family debt.

However, a DataSenado national survey conducted in April revealed that 60% of the Brazilian adult population supports the bill to legalize land-based casinos.

The political support for land-based gambling in Brazil largely stems from the potential economic benefits the industry could bring.

Estimates suggest that legalization could generate approximately BRL20 billion ($3.5 billion) in annual revenue.

When asked if legalizing land-based gambling would increase tax revenues, 58% of respondents in the DataSenado survey agreed, while 22% believed it would have no impact.

Furthermore, 44% of those surveyed believe that legalization would lead to more job opportunities in Brazil.

With the Brazilian government increasing the tax rate on operators’ GGR from 12% to 18%, some within the betting industry have suggested legalizing land-based casinos as a means of boosting tax revenue.

However, opposition to the legalization of land-based casinos remains, particularly from Senator Eduardo Girão, a long-time critic of gambling.

Girão argues that recent media reports highlighting a rise in money laundering demonstrate that the land-based gambling bill should not proceed.

Girão stated in June:

“Recent headlines show that organized crime has never laundered so much money, never made so much profit from the advent of gambling. And what is the problem in Brazil today? Basically, it is public safety.”

He added:

“The Lula government, which claims to protect the less fortunate and the poorest, can fix this mistake of betting by absolutely not allowing any more gambling to take place.”