The Chamber discussed in the last legislature and approved in a special commission a proposal to legalize the gaming sector in the country, which even had the sympathy of government members at the time, but the project was never discussed in the plenary, with the opposition of the Evangelical benches and sectors contrary to the activity. Lira created the working group three months ago to debate the matter again and come up with a text with more support.
The new project brings changes from the original text to reduce criticism of the lack of inspection, association with criminal organizations and health risks due to gambling addiction. One of the changes is to end the explicit amnesty of those being prosecuted for criminal misdemeanor for maintaining clandestine bingo or jogo do bicho operations. The current version of the project does not address the issue, which would be left to the Court.
Another point changed by Deputy Felipe Carreras (PSB-PE), rapporteur of the project, is that the authorization for the operation of gambling companies can only be given by the Union - the Federal Executive will define a regulatory body in another law. In the previous text, the idea was that city halls and state governments could release part of the gaming sector, such as casinos and bingos.
For Carreras, the change makes the legislation more rigid and with greater inspection. “In city halls the pressure could be greater. In the federal government, the body, which I imagine will be the Ministry of Economy, has a more prepared technical body and is farther away from this type of local influence,” he said. A license issued by sector entities and a business license granted by the city hall will also be required.
The draft, distributed last Wednesday to the group for debate, lists, legalizes and regulates the activities of casinos, bingos, jogo do bicho, betting (including horse racing) and skill games (these are already regular in the country). Rules are created to protect the rights of gamblers, “honest gaming guarantees” and a “National Register of Players”, which will be mandatory to participate in games of chance.
Among the points that lack definitions are dosimetry and new penal types to avoid cases of corruption and other crimes associated with gaming companies and the taxation that will be levied on the sector. On this topic, there will be a meeting with the special secretary of the Federal Revenue, José Tostes, tomorrow (30).
The international experience, according to Carreras, will be taken into account. He points out that there are countries, like Portugal, where the tax reaches 50% of sales, but he considers that number to be excessive. The subject is under study.
A Contribution for Intervention in the Economic Domain (Cide) Gaming would also be created, with the proceeds used to fund tourism, sport, player protection and health actions, and with 30% of the revenues transferred to the States and the Federal District for use in actions of these same activities. The expectation of fundraising is one of the arguments used by defenders of the sector to obtain the political support of governors and mayors.
In the view of the parliamentarians at the head of the group - made up entirely of defenders of the legalization of gaming -, the measures adopted can reduce resistance in the Chamber to the bill and make its approval viable. Their perception is that even the evangelical bench has been little involved in the matter, with some deputies taking the front line, and that the speech that the activity already exists, but irregular, can gain strength, since Lira is one of the supporters.
Source: Raphael Di Cunto - Valor
