Bill 2,234/2022, which legalizes gambling in Brazil, was approved by the Senate's Constitution and Justice Committee this year. It originated in the Chamber of Deputies, where it has been under consideration since 1991, under number 442/1991.
The bill already provides for a one-year interval for regulation if approved by the National Congress and, in the case of bingo halls, they may be opened one year after the law is approved, even if the final regulation is not yet in force. What the Finance is asking for is in article 29, item II, of the bill that legalizes the activity in Brazil.
The discussion to legalize gambling in the country is taking place at the same time as the government is moving forward with the regulation of sports betting. The Finance has structured the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), in addition to publishing ordinances detailing the rules for companies that can in fact be authorized in the country. Legal online gambling will come into effect in Brazil on January 1, 2025.
In the view of one of the members of the economic team, “the rules need to be defined before the game begins.”
The text is ready to be voted on in the plenary, with Senator Irajá as rapporteur. The last opinion published by him, however, is from June of this year. The proposal provides that the control and authorization of betting houses in the country will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance.
To justify the legalization of land-based gambling, the senators argue that online gambling has advanced and, therefore, it makes sense to invest in luxury resorts with casinos, in addition to the resumption of old bingo halls.
The text also provides that casinos must operate in integrated leisure complexes or on vessels built specifically for this purpose. Integrated leisure complexes must contain, at a minimum: high-standard hotel accommodations, with at least 100 rooms; places for holding meetings and large-scale social, cultural or artistic events; restaurants and bars; and shopping centers.
The proposal also limits the number of casinos per state:
- One establishment when the population is up to 15 million inhabitants;
- Two establishments when the population is between 15 and 25 million inhabitants;
- Three establishments, at most, when the population is over 25 million inhabitants.
The government may also authorize the operation of gambling in casinos located on riverboats in the national territory.
For bingo halls, the operation of bingo halls is subject to the existence of 250 seats for card bingo, and a maximum of one bingo hall will be accredited for every 150,000 inhabitants in the municipality where the establishment will operate.
As for the jogo do bicho, a maximum of one gaming and betting operator will be accredited for every 700,000 inhabitants in each state or in the Federal District. In the case of Rio de Janeiro, for example, which has around 16 million inhabitants, it would be possible to have up to 22 companies accredited to operate the game in the state. In São Paulo, with a population of 45 million people, there would be 65.
Source: GMB / O Globo
