The thesis of macroeconomic impact has been defended by Bruno Omori, president of the Institute for Development, Tourism, Culture, Sports and Environment (IDT-Cema), and which is based on the opportunity for economic recovery in Brazil, after the economic and social crisis generated by the pandemic.
In the world, there are more than 7 thousand establishments that focus on gaming as their core business, as attested by the Casino City Directory. In addition to land-based casinos, cruises or virtual casinos, poker houses, horse and dog races, bingos, etc.
In the lead is the United States, which has 1,983 places for betting. Following are Australia (529), France (461) and England (426). In Latin America, Mexico (310), Argentina (171) and Colombia (86) stand out. Even Brazil is on the list with four racetracks, despite the fact that horse racing is not considered a game of chance in our country.
According to the Statista portal, the gaming sector, due to its global and legalized market, generate a turnover of US$ 357 billions, with a third of which comes from the United States, whose 462 casinos (almost 100 in Las Vegas) generate US$ 6 billion for the country.
In our country, casinos have been present since the time of the Empire, but went underground in 1917. Already in the midst of the Republic, 17 years later, at the time of Getúlio Vargas, they experienced their greatest glamor until 1946. In this period, they generated jobs and tourist demand.
In the era of President Eurico Gaspar Dutra came the prohibition and banning of casinos in Brazil. But the sector sought survival in hiding and under the cover of the authorities' blind eye, such as the jogo do bicho, the slot machines, but later, in 1993, bingo houses were legalized until their extinction in 2004.
Last February 24, 2022 is being considered a turning point for the macroeconomy of Brazil, with the voting and approval of gaming and casinos in Brazil. Bill 442/91 passed with 55% of valid votes in the Chamber of Deputies, aiming to strengthen Brazil's economic and social scenario.
In the group of twenty (G 20), where the largest economies in the world are, only Brazil and Indonesia do not have regulated gambling.
The thesis of macroeconomic impact has been defended by Bruno Omori, president of the Institute for Development, Tourism, Culture, Sports and Environment (IDT-Cema), and which is based on the opportunity for economic recovery in Brazil, after the economic and social crisis generated by the pandemic.
The IDT-Cema, after SWOT studies, defends, as a strong point, (a) the generation of more than 10 million jobs, (b) the generation of more than R$ 5 billion (US$ 1.1bln) in taxes, (c) more than R$ 200 billion (US$ 433.2bln) in national investments, (d) in addition to directly impacted segments: real estate, construction, industry, logistics, transport, hospitality, culture, security, communication.
It should be noted that gaming already exists in Brazil, and the legal ones such as Mega-Sena, Telesena, turf and sports betting generate more than R$ 40 billion (US$ 8.65bln) in revenue, and, unfortunately, there are illegal ones, such as bingos and clandestine casinos, jogo do bicho and others, which are currently in the hands of criminals with an estimated turnover of more than $30 billion (US$ 65bln) and who do not collect taxes or generate formal labor, which with the passage of the law, they should become legal and, in this way, collect taxes, generate jobs in the portfolio, drastically reduce tax evasion and money laundering.
The release of casinos should take place through the new public policies for self-sustainable tourism, as foreseen, at the height of a quality casino and whose locations are decisive for the development of tourism, if possible in strategic spaces, preferably long distance from the capitals, and, above all, inviting to the practice of regional tourism.
Roberto Pereira
Former president of Empetur and member of the Brazilian Academy of Events and Tourism
Source: Jornal do Commercio (Recife-PE)
