GMB – What is your opinion about the Brazilian iGaming Summit?
Deputy Newton Cardoso Jr. – I would like to thank Games Magazine Brasil and the organizers of BiS 2021 for the invitation to participate in this event. It's the first one I've participated in since the Tourism Commission after the reduction of the isolation caused by the pandemic. It is very important to see this event extremely well organized and highly qualified. I saw bold and avant-garde discussions. We had the opportunity, together with the President of the Commission, Deputy Bacelar, and also participating in the discussions as a member of the Gaming WG, we were able to present a little of the evolution of our work that fully affects the activity of everyone who is participating in BiS. We want to bring an environment of legal and regulatory security so that the activity can prosper, generate more jobs and grow economically in Brazil.
Is the intention to approve all gaming modalities in the country?
Yes. I trust that, as it becomes irreversible as soon as we legalize a game, it creates an almost obligation to criminalize activities that are not legalized. So we must approve everything so that everyone can come to the light of the law.
The question everyone is asking is when will happen the approval of the Framework and regulation of all activities?
We have been talking a lot in the WG – and here we have qualified the activity of congressmen Felipe Carreras, rapporteur, and Bacelar, president of the Group – and we see a great possibility of the text being voted on in the Plenary in December.
Is this bylaw possible?
We are protected in this regard, as the text of the Special Committee of Bill 442, from 2015, is on the table of the Chamber’s Presidency, to go to the agenda. With the creation of the Gaming WG, it is possible that a substitute will be presented to be taken to the Plenary.
No need to go through commissions since the original text is already approved by them?
Exactly. We have already passed this phase. The discussion is very mature at the House and the focus is on the resistance that may still exist eventually to the approval of the topic.
And what fine tuning is missing from this latest version?
We have to define what will be the actual activities inserted and the scope of characteristics of casinos in resorts and if we will have the alternative category, which I call tourist casino, and the chapter on taxation, which needs fine-tuning.
In the case of taxation, are you adjusting this in line with the Federal Revenue's precepts?
Yes. The Revenue, if it depends on it, will want 100% taxation, but we will find a balance so that the activity can operate with quality, attracting investments to the country and with relevant economic impact, in addition to fair taxation on the sector.
We can also say, as I commented during a panel at BiS, that the IRS still has the best control tools in the world, which guarantees that the activity will have clear and transparent rules and adequate inspection. We also reaffirm that Coaf itself, attentive to good international practices, has already signaled to us that if the gaming sector adopts identical compliance to the main well-regulated markets and that meet its own technical precepts, it will not put any opposition to the approval of the gaming sector in Brazil. So, we are very optimistic about the work we are doing and about the future of the activity in the country.
Source: Exclusive GMB
