The Minister of Tourism, Gilson Machado, said on Monday (24) that he is in favor of the installation in Brazil of "integrated resorts" similar to those that exist in the United States, which include, among other services, casino games, which currently are prohibited in Brazil. According to him, the legalization of the practice could result in billion-dollar investments for the country and form a new tourist attraction.
In an interview with 98 FM Natal, the minister noted that he visited, in the beginning of last year, integrated resorts in Las Vegas, in the USA. He emphasized that the resorts have not only casinos, but also large hotels, restaurants, parks, and shopping malls - which generate thousands of jobs and move the entire tourist chain in the surroundings. Casinos, in most cases, represent only about 23%, according to him, of the billing of this venues.
“Casino is just a piece of equipment. The equipment is called an integrated resort. It has huge hotels with at least 7 thousand beds, very well structured, a convention center for up to 200 thousand people. They fill the surrounding hotels. In addition, it has a water park, restaurant, bar, store, shopping center of all brands in the world. And there is the casino part. What I found most surprising is that gaming's share is only 23% of the turnover,” stressed the minister.
Gilson Machado recalled that the eventual legalization of casinos depends on the approval of the National Congress. The minister acknowledged that the issue is not progressing in the legislature because of the resistance of the evangelical group, which makes up the support base of the Jair Bolsonaro government in parliament.
“We have to convince our evangelical base. There is even a church in the integrated resort. But we have to know our support base so that they accept that from there. We are under construction,” said the minister, noting that the articulation for the practice to be legalized has been made by senators Flávio Bolsonaro (Republicanos-RJ) and Irajá Silvestre (PSD-TO).
The Minister of Tourism also pointed out that Brazil is one of the few richest countries in the world that does not legalize the practice of casino.
“I think it is a very big opportunity for Brazil. Of the 20 G-20 countries, the only non-Muslim country that does not have an integrated resort is Brazil. Billions of dollars are going to come for investment. And Brazil is the last frontier. But we always have the last word of the Congress, to see how it will get out of there,” he concluded.
Source: GMB
