The Brazilian political class is informal, backward and conservative. It is with this finding that I return to the country after participating in the XXI Round Table of Casino Regulators in Latin America and the Caribbean, a meeting promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, in its capital, Lima. Representatives from the main countries of the continent were there, among them Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.
Almost all of them asked me, with so much gaming being offered on the streets, why has Brazil not yet regulated the activity? I could not answer there and I can not answer here. It is a mixture of shame and indignation because we are losing this opportunity. While the world is already discussing the issue of Bitcoins, Blockchain, virtual games; here we do not know if it votes minimally the legalization of gaming.
Our neighbors in South America took that potential and did their homework. Peru is already considered a model in the fight against informality in casino games and slot machines. Chile, a state considered as conservative as the Brazilian, has already legalized its market and is improving regulatory models. Not to mention the traditional tourist destinations of games in Uruguay and Argentina, which receive thousands of Brazilians every year.
One of the biggest potential of this market comes from sports betting. In recent research in the United States, conducted by Nielsen Sports and released on the 14th, shows the mode as the fastest growing in the world. Already are the largest sponsors of sports channels, are next to some of the biggest clubs and selections and reach adults under 35 years and gamblers with high household incomes. The US state of New Jersey is currently a benchmark in sportsbook structure. According to official data, in July 2018 alone, the modality generated US$3.8 million of gross revenue for the New Jersey economy. Exactly what the market in Brazil and especially in Rio de Janeiro need. In Rio, we want all operators collecting taxes and generating jobs here and not in tax havens.
Ah, Portugal! Our patricians made a choice for gaming to get out of one of the main economic crises that the country has gone through. In April 2015, the Portuguese government approved the legal regime for online gambling, which was put into operation soon after, and allowed to play poker, casino, sports betting and horse racing games online.
The initial expectation was to raise 25 million euros per year with the modality, goal that was exceeded five times. In just one year, revenues generated by online games reached 122.6 million euros, according to a balance released by the Portuguese Tourism Games Regulation and Inspection Service. Resources that are applied there in Social Security, according to regulation of the Holy House of Portuguese Mercy.
The year 2017 was also very good for the land-based casino segment. With revenue estimated at 307 million euros, in the third quarter of 2017 there was a boom in gross revenue, surpassing 86 million euros - 14.5% more compared to the second quarter of the same year. A good part of this collection came from tourism both domestically and from visitors from other countries who take advantage of the opportunity to have fun in Portuguese casinos.
Meanwhile, Brazil bitter the fourth year of an unprecedented crisis and wasting the chance to generate employment and bring income to the country. And I do not see any presidential candidates addressing this issue. You bet, Mr. President, gaming exists in Brazil. We only collect very little from the activity.
Let's turn the game!
Sérgio Ricardo de Almeida, President of LOTERJ
