The hotel industry in Brazil looks forward to the legalization of gaming
in the country. Major industry insiders have stated support for regulation and
expect hotels to grow with the arrival of new casinos, bingos and other gaming
activities.
The President of the FBHA (Brazilian Federation of Lodging
and Food), Alexandre Sampaio, affirms that legalization can bring many
investments to the Brazilian hotel industry highlighting the possibility of creating
new vacancies and income generation.
"It is estimated the creation of 400 thousand new jobs and income, and the
increase of more than 200% in the tourist potential of the cities with the
legalization of gaming,” he said.
Luigi Rotunno, President of the Brazilian Association of Resorts, does not agree with the arguments that future gaming regulation may increase money laundering. "We can use the same model adopted in France where bets are made through credit cards. It is an efficient tax avoidance and control solution that could be applied in Brazil."
Bruno
Omori, President of ABIH/SP (Brazilian Association of Hotel Industry of São
Paulo,) says that casinos will be a fuel for tourism in cities and reveals that
there is already a target for the number of tourists. "The potential is
great. We get about five million tourists a year, but we want to reach twelve
million."
Currently, there are two bills beeing discussed. In the Senate, PL 186/2014
will be debated by the Constitution and Justice Commission after the
parliamentary recess. The text had already been approved unanimously by the
Economic Development Commission, but in plenary it was referred to CCJ with the
approval of Senator Magno Malta's request.
In the
Deputies Chamber, project 442/91 was discussed in an open session in December
2016, but there is no date scheduled to be voted in plenary. It is estimated
that the legalization of gaming may bring to the Brazilian state an extra
collection of USD 4,65 billion per year.
Source: GMB/ Revista Hotéis
