The project that expands the range of legalized gambling in the country (PLS186 / 2014) will be send to the Commission for Constitution, Justice and Citizenship (CCJ), where it should be discussed only in March 2017.
The bill was expected to be voted in the Senate on Wednesday, but Senator Magno Malta (PR-ES) has filed an application asking the CCJ for a more in-depth debate on the matter. There were 44 votes in favor and 19 against the application.
From Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), the project defines the types of gaming to be explored, the criteria for authorization, the requirements for businessmen and potential investors and the rules for the distribution of prizes and collection of taxes. Casinos, electronic betting, bingo and "jogo do bicho” can be legalized. The substitute, by Senator Fernando Bezerra Coelho (PSB-PE), also deals with the federal and state lotteries and dosweepstake - a lottery type related to horse racing.
The issue was approved by the Special Committee of National Development (CEDN) on early November and sent to the Plenary. CEDN is responsible for analyzing the projects of the Brazilian Agenda submitted by Senate President Renan Calheiros with the objective of encouraging the resumption of the country's economic growth. In this commission, the projects process is faster, surpassing rites and deadlines.
Gambling
Senator Aloysio Nunes Ferreira (PSDB-SP) said that is "absolutely essential" to hear the CCJ on legal aspects of the text. According to the Senator, the current text of the bill may be questioned on constitutionality. For Magno Malta, the "gambling project" will only help "to money laundering from corruption and traffic drugs."
"Everything that produces addictions and emotional problems is already a very bad thing. If this project passes, we will turn Brazil into a paradise of corruption,” warned the senator.
Senators Marta Suplicy (PMDB-SP), Vanessa Grazziotin (PCdoB-AM) and Simone Tebet (PMDB-MS) also supported sending the project to the CCJ. In the view of Senator Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede-AP), the project does not deal with the generation of new wealth, but with the withdrawal of money from the poorest.
"What has been observed in countries that have legalized casinos has been the increase in drug consumption and traffic. There's no reason to rush with this project,” Randolfe argued.
Taboo
For Ciro Nogueira, however, the country needs to "face this taboo." He stressed that the issue of legalization "has been discussed 20 years ago in this House," without any progress. According to the Senator, the debate is indeed about legalization, since illegal gambling already exists. Ciro said there are more slot machines in Brazil than in the United States, where this type of gaming legalized. An example would be the city of São Paulo (SP), where there is an electronic betting machine "at every corner, often protected by police officers".
"Gaming already exists in the country. It is time for the people to have some benefit from legalization, said the author of the proposal.
Senator Fernando Bezerra Coelho also defended the Plenary vote, arguing that the country "can no longer live with the clandestine." For the Senator, Brazil is in need of resources to promote its development and to generate jobs, and the legalization of more type of games of chance can collaborate. Despite the arguments, the application was approved and the project sent to the CCJ.
Source: GMB/Agência Senado
