GMB - Deputy, what is your assessment of the Brazilian iGaming Summit, which is discussing, among other things, the work you are doing in the WG of the Regulatory Framework for Gaming at the Federal Chamber?
Deputy Bacelar - It has an excellent level, an impeccable organization and a highly qualified auditorium. I think it is the portrait of the segment in Brazil, with enlightened businessmen and social commitment. It is the face of the gaming sectore in Brazil. I see that here is the model of the good part of gaming that we have been embracing for a long time and that it will spread across the country when Congress regulates the activity.
Everyone is waiting for your response on the completion of the WG job...
I believe that by December 9th it will be over. The President of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, has been demanding that we finish our work. Deputy Felipe Carreras, rapporteur of the Regulatory Framework for Gaming, is working 24 hours a day to close the report. I hope that on this 9th we can present for the President to guide the matter.
With all the modalities?
Yes, all the verticals. There is no justification for legalizing one and making the other illegal. All segments and all modalities must be legalized.
Bylaws there is still time for voting this year. But what about shoulder to shoulder and convincing with your peers?
The project is ready. It can be scheduled for any time. But we are in the phase that, popularly called in the Chamber, “counting votes”. Now is the time and a matter like this can only be scheduled when we are absolutely sure of its approval.
And does this security already exist?
I feel this atmosphere in the House. Today, everyone wants to embrace the segment and recognizes the importance of the activity for Brazil. Especially in my case, in the area of tourism. Currently, Brazil does not invest anything in the promotion of Destination Brazil, while Mexico contributes US$ 500 million. Why don't we invest? Because we don't have resources. With gaming, if we follow the model of Portugal, where 70% of the resources go to Destination Portugal, we can pursue this concept, even if it is not in the 70% range. In a poor country, there is a lot of struggle for these resources, so I hope that part of it will be applied to the promotion of Destination Brazil, so that we can go from 6 million foreign tourists to 30 million. The Eiffel Tower has the same number of visitors. Argentina has the same number and Portugal six times more.
Is the issue of taxes on the activity already defined?
As I said on the BiS panel, we are finalizing discussions in this regard and we will work in these final hours to reach a consensus. According to our initial studies, taxation should be in the range of 20% of the GGR (gross profit of the operation) and 20% of income tax on the profit for the bettor.
Source: Exclusive GMB
