"My position is clear. From what I've seen, due to the amount of votes and urgency, they can overturn a possible veto. I intend to veto the issue of gaming in Brazil. I don't think we are yet mature enough to deal with this issue. Now, there are many people who defend, and then democracy. If I veto and the parliament overturns the veto, we will comply with the law," Bolsonaro said.
The bill that regulates gaming has been in the Chamber of Deputies since 1991. The president of the House, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), Bolsonaro's ally, has defended the proposal and intends to analyze the bill.
In September, Bolsonaro had already declared, in an interview with Veja magazine, that it would be “natural” to veto the bill, but he recognized at the time the possibility that Congress might eventually overturn the veto. Evangelical leaders argue that a veto by Bolsonaro, if the bill is approved, would give more time for the religious group in Congress to articulate against the issue.
The text's rapporteur, Federal Deputy Felipe Carreras (PSB-PE), states that "the legalization of the activity in the country will contribute to the collection of more than R$ 65 billion per year, and to the generation of more than 650,000 direct Jobs."
"Everyone knows that there is a casino, that there is bingo, there are slot machines, virtual bets, which are debited from the credit card, debited and paid abroad... the so popular jogo do bicho", declared Lira, at the end of last year.
"But does it have to remain underground to continue without generating formal jobs in Brazil? Without paying, more or less, R$ 20 to R$ 25 billion in taxes for the Brazilian people? This debate will take place here," added the president of the Chamber.
Source: GMB
