The law is defended and expected in virtually every sector of the Rio economy and has been pushed by some of the most engaged civil society groups in Rio, such as ‘Rio Vamos Vencer’ and ‘Coalizão Rio’.
The former governor and former mayor of Campos municipality, located in the northern region of Rio de Janeiro State, comments that the Bible says “Everything is allowed, but not everything suits him” and advises Christians not to be like the Pharisees, who claim to be religious and are not.
He continues saying: “God doesn't like you to go to unhealthy environments. If you think that environment is not healthy, don't go", and adds not to "put God in the middle in something that has nothing to do."
Garotinho knows that his opinion will not please everyone, but he prefers that people know what he thinks and asks for arguments for those who are against. According to him, Brazil could collect at least R$29 billion (USD 5.07bln) a year with taxes on allowed games of chance, thus having much more resources available for important programs such as aid program ‘Auxílio Brasil’.
The estimate is that the casinos could generate up to 200 thousand new jobs. He also recalls that a lot is said in Brazil that gambling is not legal, but there is a jogo do bicho point of sale on every street corner, and he even mentions the traditional Silvio Santos show as a kind of game.
For him, those who are not poor will play in casinos; and he makes fun of anyone who claims that casinos will be used to launder money: in Brazil, for him, it would be the banks that launder money.
The counterpoint of Marcelo Freixo
In the same video, Garotinho gives a light nudge to the federal deputy and pre-candidate for governor of Rio, Marcelo Freixo (PSB), who takes a stand against casinos on the grounds that they could increase indebtedness and break up families. The candidate has been trying to get closer to evangelicals and religious in general.
In addition to having said that the poor will not be the main clients of casinos, Garotinho believes that there will be no disaggregation, “because whoever wants to go”. And added that today the families are already broken up. He ends up shooting: “if you can't legalize gambling, put an end to Telesena, Mega Sena, Loto Fácil and that the government itself has games. Not to mention the online gaming that people are playing with sites hosted abroad and that charge foreign tax on the money Brazilians play.”
DIÁRIO DO RIO consulted theologians and found that, in fact, the biblical texts do not even mention any express prohibition on gambling, lottery, or betting specifically. The holy book of the Christian people recommends that they avoid the love of money, considering that covetousness would be the source of all evils - so it is said in I Timothy 6:10 and also in Hebrews 13:5. The Bible also points out the Christian should keep away from the search for easy enrichment, which would be demonstrated in the passages of Ecclesiastes 5:10 and Proverbs 13:11; 23:5.
Source: DIÁRIO DO RIO
