Brazil ranks third in the global online betting market, behind only the UK and Japan. "Brazil is a country with very great potential. With a good study, we can put 20 to 25 casinos in each region, generating jobs and stimulating the economy," said Beltrão.
However, the idea is not unbridled and abrupt liberalization: the trend is for the opening to be gradual, with casinos set up in resorts. This is the model adopted by iconic cities like Las Vegas and Punta del Este.
Openness will be gradual and controlled
According to PLS, casino complexes must meet a number of requirements, including luxury hotels, shopping malls, restaurants, entertainment areas, convention centers and other recreational areas.
In addition, the number of establishments per state would be proportional to the population of the region. Federative units with up to 15 million inhabitants may have a casino, those with between 15 and 25 million may have two, and those that exceed 25 million may have three.
The idea is that the project be approved along with other actions to modernize the national tourism industry, such as the transformation of Embratur into an agency, improvements in infrastructure of tourist sites and greater openness to foreign companies, especially in aviation.
Executives and authorities strive to legalize gambling and open Brazilian market
In addition to public agents, business conglomerates also have potential in Brazil. With the opening of casinos incorporated into hotels, along the lines of other famous cities such as Las Vegas, the idea is to attract both tourists and business events and conventions.
Holder of a variety of tourist destinations, the country also has a culture totally identified with the sports bets and casino games. The passion of the Brazilian for football is reflected in relation to the bets in the sport. But much more than football, sports betting in other sports such as basketball, volleyball and Formula 1, in addition to other modalities not so widespread in the country, as American football, for example, grow more and more. There are already thousands of bettors, from those who bet for fun and those who engage in betting and gaming as a source of income.
"Brazil has a huge population and economy, and a recent history of popular games. In addition, Brazil has many large cities, natural beauties, cultural attractions and diverse local culture - all attractive to tourists," said Robert Heller, CEO of Spectrum Gaming Capital.
It should also be taken into account that Brazil already has thousands of betting houses under the regulations of Caixa Econômica Federal, which shows that the country has the conditions to manage this market with enormous potential that has attracted the attention of major players of 70 countries.
The pressure is clear: major conglomerates in the industry, such as MGM Resorts, Sands and Ceasars Entertainment, owners of Venetian, Bellagio and Flamingo casinos, respectively, have sent executives to Brazil annually. The goal is to follow the approval of legislation favorable to the activity.
Even with the corporate lobby, representatives of the government say they do not give up a cautious opening and are accompanied by measures that guarantee the necessary infrastructure for the proper functioning of these establishments, such as the opening of restaurants and a minimum number of rooms in the resorts.
Casinos as driving factors in tourism
One of the arguments in favor of legalization is the promotion of tourism: despite the size of the Brazilian territory, the number of foreign tourists visiting the country is small: since 1998, it has been frozen at something around 5 million a year. In contrast, the city of Miami alone receives about 7 million, and the Colosseum in Rome alone 4 million.
"We know that the country needs to advance in infrastructure and public safety, in addition to tourism measures that tend to further promote the sector, such as the opening of foreign capital, modernization of the General Tourism Law, with the possibility of attracting resorts with casino in limited numbers," said federal deputy Paulo Azi (DEM-BA).
As the potential is great, companies look for strategic areas, but are not limited to the Rio-São Paulo axis: they also observe potential in the Northeast and cities such as Foz do Iguaçu.
Casinos have potential to ease public accounts
It is not surprising that Brazilian public accounts are going through a tightening moment: in 2017, the recorded gap exceeded R$ 120 billion (US$ 30.7bn). In 2018 and 2019, the trend is that they will also turn red. This causes the government to seek new ways to cut spending and raise revenue.
At the moment, the legalization of casinos is a measure that can bring some relief to the public coffers. It is estimated that the Union fails to raise almost R$ 40 billion (US$ 10.25bn) in taxes annually thanks to the legal barrier that prevents the operation of casinos.
In addition to the tax issue, the casinos business model within resorts generates a high number of jobs. After all, this strategy does not only require the hiring of staff for gaming: it usually comes with extensions, renovations and a reinforcement in the hotel's own staff, to account for the extra demand brought by the increase in visitors.
Countries that have opened the door to the activity already reap the benefits in this regard. The Portuguese group Estoril Sol, for example, estimates that its 11 casinos in Portugal employ around 18,000 people directly.
Source: GMB / Embarque na Viagem (Brasil)
