Casino may be approved in Brazil

The Special Committee on National Development approved on Wednesday (9) the project that enlarges the range of legalized gambling in the country (PLS 186/2014). The matter, which now goes to the Plenary, is part of the Agenda Brazil - agenda presented by Senate President Renan Calheiros, with the objective of encouraging the resumption of economic growth in the country.

From Senator Ciro Nogueira, the project defines the types of games to be explored, the criteria for authorization, the requirements for the members and the rules for the distribution of prizes and collection of taxes. Casinos, bingo, animal gambling and electronic betting may be legalized. The substitute, by Senator Fernando Bezerra Coelho, also deals with the federal and state lotteries and sweepstake - a lottery type related to horse racing.

According to the rapporteur, Brazil is one of the few countries among the largest economies in the world that does not yet have legal mechanisms to regulate gambling. As a negative effect of this archaic view, Bezerra Coelho argues, Brazil suffers from the loss of attractiveness to large foreign investors in the tourism sector. Based on information from the World Lottery Association, the rapporteur reported that only in the lottery market did the games move US $ 400 billion worldwide in 2014, of which Brazil had only 1% share of lotteries managed by Caixa .

For Bezerra Coelho, the legalization of games in Brazil can be an important vector in the generation of taxes, employment and income. A conservative projection, according to the rapporteur, estimates the collection of R $ 29 billion in taxes for the government in the next three years. In presenting his replacement, the rapporteur emphasized that he sought to meet the suggestions of fellow senators and representatives of various government agencies.

"I think we have been able to address the suggestions that sought to balance legalization and care for the money laundering crimes," the senator said.

According to the text, the delegation for the exploitation of games of chance is exclusively the responsibility of the Union. The Caixa Econômica Federal Bank, as operator, will be responsible for the administration of company accounts, as well as support for actions to supervise the games. The procedure for granting the operation of games of chance will always be preceded by a bid. The concession will last for up to 25 years, depending on the modality, and can be renewed for an equal period only once.