Senator Irajá (PSD-TO) attended the SBC Summit Latinoamérica 2024, where he participated in the panel “A Roadmap to Land-Based Casino in Brazil.” To a packed auditorium, he spoke about the importance of approving Bill 2.234/2022, which legalizes casinos, bingo and jogo do bicho in Brazil.
Irajá highlighted that the Bill has undergone numerous adjustments in the Senate committees and is now ready to go to the Plenary. The senator stated that all countries that have legalized gambling have seen a significant increase in the number of tourists and that the activity has brought wealth to them, both in the form of investments and in the creation of jobs and taxes.
After his participation in the SBC LatAm panel, Senator Irajá gave an exclusive interview to GMB.
GMB – Senator, when will the project to legalize casinos, bingo, and jogo do bicho come to a vote in the Senate Plenary?
Senator Irajá – I am very confident that we will finally vote on this in the Federal Senate Plenary before the end of the year. The President of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, who leads the work, is convinced of the importance of this project for the country, of delivering this social and economic agenda, and of opening a new business environment for Brazilians by early next year.
There are indications from the President himself that if the Senate passes this project, he will sign it into law, as he understands how important it is for our economy. This project would generate over 1.5 million jobs, attract over R$100 billion (US$17bn) in new investments in Brazil, and bring in more than R$20 billion (US$3.5bn) in taxes, which would be distributed across the country to states, municipalities, healthcare, and sports.
Therefore, this issue is ready and mature for evaluation and discussion among the senators. Of course, we are working to build consensus and the necessary majority to get it approved. After 33 years of discussion in Congress, it’s time to bring to light an activity that is so important for the Brazilian economy.
The Ministries themselves have endorsed your project, like the Ministry of Tourism. And Finance Minister Fernando Haddad has also supported it alongside you. Is there no reason not to vote?
We’re at a crossroads. We either ignore the reality and pretend that gambling doesn’t exist, allowing it to continue operating clandestinely, illegally, and under the control of organized crime, or we face the issue and approve responsible gambling—regulated, monitored, and taxed by the government, creating millions of jobs.
That’s what we are advocating: bringing reputable players into this market, reputable companies that will contribute to the country’s economic growth.
In your view, when will we see the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a tourist casino in Brazil?
I hope soon. That’s why it’s important to approve the legislation and get it regulated next year. With the federal government’s organization through the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Tourism can present the market with bid notices. Once these bids are in place, companies can participate, and those that win will begin their investments in real terms, with construction driving real economic growth in commerce, services, and Brazil’s hotel industry.
So, will the regulation process itself begin next year?
Once approved, the text provides up to a year for regulation, but I am very confident that the federal government will move much faster because it is in their interest to get these investments started quickly, as they generate jobs, income, and taxes, in addition to licensing fees from auctions.
Not to mention, this will end the negative issues that an unregulated and illegal sector brings, correct?
Exactly. It will put an end to clandestine and illegal gambling, which continues to operate in Brazil.
Has it taken too long for this to happen?
We could have advanced this issue much sooner, just as almost every OECD country has done. Of the 38 countries, only Iceland has yet to approve responsible gambling. Among the G20, which includes Brazil, only Brazil and Indonesia have not done so.
All other countries have already legalized responsible gambling, and in the vast majority, their tourist numbers doubled within five years. Take, for example, Singapore: in 2009, when they introduced integrated resorts, the city-state received around 8 million tourists per year; 14 years later, they now host 19 million tourists. This is a strong example, and similar cases have occurred in other countries that legalized gambling. This success is bound to be reflected in Brazil as well.
That's more than double the tourists who visit Brazil annually, and with so much natural beauty!
Brazil has been blessed by God with natural beauty. I believe no country combines so many good things like Brazil: the beaches of the Northeast, the Pantanal, the Amazon, the natural wonders of Rio de Janeiro, the South, and the Jalapão in my home state of Tocantins.
It’s rare to find a country with as much diversity as Brazil. It’s a shame we haven't yet capitalized on the opportunity for integrated resorts. This will propel Brazilian tourism, and while we are currently stagnating at around 6 million tourists per year, our goal is for Brazil to double that number in a short span, in about five years.
How many casinos do you believe Brazil will have with the sector’s legalization?
The project includes the installation of 34 casinos in integrated resorts—one per state, except for more populated states like São Paulo, Rio, Minas, and Bahia, which may have two or three licenses. In total, there will be 34.
And as for tourist casinos?
For each integrated resort casino, one additional tourist casino is permitted. So, we’re looking at around 68 establishments in total.
Senator, the entire industry thanks you for the incredible work you’ve done throughout this process, and we hope for a great victory.
Thank you so much for the support, for the confidence, and we will keep fighting as it’s not over yet. We’ll push it through the Federal Senate Plenary and deliver a modern piece of legislation—a new business environment for Brazil that will boost tourism and make the country a global powerhouse in international tourism.
Source: Exclusive GMB
