Senator Angelo Coronel, from the PSD of the state of Bahia, promised in an interview with Rádio Senado that in 2023 he will look into the legalization of gambling in Brazil. For the senator, Brazil cannot be isolated in clandestinity compared to developed countries that have already regulated the legislation on the activity and increased their revenues on account of the taxes collected - as is the case of Italy, which, according to the senator, generates in around 1.4% of GDP, due to taxation of games.
“Today, in Brazil, gaming is banked freely without having 1 cent of tax for the Brazilian. Then people also say: Ah, Colonel, are you in favor of the gaming sector? I'm not in favor of any of that. I want to know about legalizing what already exists. The current situation is one that cannot continue – that the activity can be banked freely, without generating taxes for the Union,” he stated.
Several propositions that deal with the exploitation of gambling in the national territory have already been presented in the Senate. One of them is Bill No. 2234, of 2022, which was approved last year in the Chamber of Deputies and is now awaiting analysis by the senators.
According to the text, the granting of permanent or temporary licenses by the Granting Authority is permitted depending on the activity. The proposal also allows casinos to be installed in resorts or on river vessels. The bingo halls will be accredited through licenses with a duration of 25 years, which can be renewed for the same period.
For the jogo do bicho, the text of the Chamber requires that bets be registered and accessed in real time by the Union.
The issue has not been pacified in the Federal Senate. One of those resistant to this and other similar projects is Senator Eduardo Girão, from Podemos party in Ceará state.
Last year, Girão managed to create the “Parliamentary Front for a Brazil without Gambling”. For him, the legalization of the sector facilitates the practice of crimes such as money laundering, tax evasion, revenue evasion and corruption of public agents.
The objective of the Parliamentary Front is to promote debates and adopt initiatives that discourage gambling, aiming to combat its possible consequences for society.
Source: Senate
