The idea is to give a lighter tone to the text, as poker and fantasy games have popular appeal and are considered games of skill — so called because the gambler's skill counts as much or even more than luck.
Skill games were already in Carreras' draft report, but were withdrawn by the deputy himself before the parliamentary recess, in December. The objective was to build an agreement for the approval of a parallel text just to deal with this modality.
The removal of the chapter, however, hampered the articulation that has been made for the approval of the project - especially by the president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira, and by the minister of the Civil House, Ciro Nogueira. "We are evaluating, yes [the reinsertion of the chapter]," Carreras told UOL.
Evangelical resistance
The current proposal only includes the legalization of casinos, bingos and jogo do bicho, establishing taxes on these activities, if the law comes into force. Parliamentarians who are members of the evangelical wing, including those linked to the current administration of the Executive, however, say that they will not support the project.
They claim that making gambling legal in Brazil will intensify money laundering, drug trafficking and gambling addiction. They say they believe the losses would be greater than the financial benefits from tax collection.
The rejection of the religious, however, will not prevent them from forming part of the government's allied base and from voting in favor of other agendas of interest to the Planalto Palace.
Attempt to regulate
The Ministry of Economy had drafted a decree for the regulation of skill games, especially virtual ones, with emphasis on fantasy games.
The government text, however, did not advance in the Civil House, responsible for overturning the draft before the rule was signed by President Jair Bolsonaro (PL). Asked for this report, the Minister of the Civil House, Ciro Nogueira, did not respond to questions about why the draft was overturned. If there is a return, the placement will be included in this text.
Project ready to be voted on
With or without games of skill, the gambling bill is ready to be voted on by the House floor. Deputies in his favor want Arthur Lira to put him to a vote this month. The urgent procedure for the text was easily approved in the plenary in December, just before the recess.
The Evangelical Parliamentary Front of Congress is betting that President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) will veto the project. Even so, it still seeks to convince parliamentarians in favor of gambling to change their position.
A request to Lira is that the project not be analyzed by the remote system, in effect until Carnival. According to sources linked to the president of the House, it is easier to reverse votes or an agreement in person.
The opposition to the legalization of gambling unites the evangelical bench with Catholics — the CNBB (National Conference of Bishops of Brazil) even issued a note against the project — and part of the left wing. Critics of the idea also claim to count on the possible contrary pressure from public opinion, which gains weight in an election year.
Source: Lucas Valença - UOL, em Brasília
