The meeting of the Constitution and Justice Commission of the Senate this Wednesday (7) began with the discussion of PLS 186/2014, which deals with the legalization of games of chance throughout the national territory. The debates began with the reading of the anticipated votes of Senators Randolfe Rodrigues and Magno Malta, who took more than an hour to express their position.
After the opposing statements by the two senators, the rapporteur Benedito de Lira and the author of the proposal Ciro Nogueira, defended the proposal arguing that the project would guarantee more money to the public coffers, would generate thousands of jobs and that establishing a regulatory framework for the activity will help to solve problems of clandestinity.
Ciro Nogueira, senator from the PP of Piauí and author of the project to regulate the exploitation of games of chance, says in the CCJ that "if we don’t regulate sports betting, our football will be contaminated. It's very easy to be against. But we do not have the option of having or not having gaming. Let's get the benefits. Today, Brazil is left alone with the mischief of the activity. Money laundering exists as it is today."
Bendito de Lira said that ilegal gaming is responsible for the biggest problems: "Clandestine games are a reality and cause the problems. All institutions are aware of this. We are trying to legalize an economic activity, which generates employment. We are pulling out legality, "said the rapporteur.
Even with the speech of the rapporteur and the author of the proposal the following statements were vehemently contrary to the proposal of legalization of gaming pointing out that the country should have other priorities, that the project would be harmful to the poorest who would lose their money with the bets, besides the old arguments of gambling addiction and money laundering.
Then the vote was opened and the Constitution, Justice and Citizenship Commission (CCJ) rejected the gaming bill and the reopening of casinos in the country that was dealt with in PLS 186/2014.
Despite the contrary result, the bill can still be voted on in plenary if a senator enters with a request for such an analysis. Meanwhile, the current options for gaming regulation are the projects of the new general tourism law, which may include casinos, and PL 442/1991, which deals with the regulatory framework of the activity, both being processed in the Chamber of Deputies.
Before today's vote, the gaming bill was to be voted twice on CCJ. In this commission, the text reported by Senator Benedito de Lira received four amendments, that caused a delay for vote until today, of which only one was accepted by the rapporteur and included in the final substitute. The PLS 186/2014 was sent to CCJ at the end of 2016 when it was approved in plenary the request of Senator Magno Malta that asked for the analysis of the constitutionality of the project of gaming legalization.
The text of PLS 186/2014 contemplates the regularization of local jogo do bicho; video-bingo and video games; bingo game; casino games in integrated leisure complexes; sports and non-sports betting games; online casino games. Accreditation for the operation of the bingo and video-bingo game will have a 20-year term, renewable for an equal period, and will be the responsibility of the states. The accreditation of casinos will be valid for 30 years and may be renewed for successive periods.
Source: GMB
