The public hearing was proposed by Senator Irajá, rapporteur of Bill 2,234/2022, to discuss the legalization of casinos, bingo, jogo do bicho and horse racing.
The project authorizes the installation of casinos in tourist centers or integrated leisure complexes, such as high-end hotels with at least 100 rooms, restaurants, bars and places for meetings and cultural events.
In addition to some opponents to the approval of the matter, the hearing included Alex Pariente, VP of Casino and Hotel Operations at Hard Rock International; Guilherme Luís Dias, specialist in inspection and regulation; Thiago Borges, VP of the Brazilian Association of Resorts; and Manoel Cardoso Linhares, president of the Brazilian Hotel Industry Association, among others.
The usual allegations, about the risks of increased gambling addiction, association with crime, money laundering, currency evasion and terrorist financing, among other evils that could arise from the legalization of gambling, were countered by consistent information pointed out by several of guests present at the public hearing.
Legal gaming combats crime
All supporters of the activity defended the legalization of gaming as the main tool to combat such alleged ills. In general, the summary of this position was clear in the statement by Guilherme Luís Dias, an international specialist in supervision and regulation, who stated:
“Gambling activity is important in all countries where it is well regulated and brings immeasurable benefits, both social and economic. By legalizing and regulating, the government has enough technology to combat possible crimes and bring investments to Brazil.”
Tiago Borges, VP of the Brazilian Resorts Association, highlighted that Brazil has a very great opportunity to contribute to the development of tourism in Brazil, “but it must allow current resort operators to participate in this process and not limit the installation of casinos in large integrated resorts to be installed in the country. It is important to allow current operators to also participate in future tenders for the installation of casinos in the states.”
National resort operators want opportunity
In the same vein, Manoel Cardoso Linhares, president of the Brazilian Hotel Industry Association, defended the freedom for current hotel entrepreneurs to install casinos, in order to contribute to regional development where they operate.
The most consistent statements came from Alex Pariente, VP of Casino and Hotel Operations at Hard Rock International. For him, casino is an entertainment activity and is accepted in most parts of the world. “There are few cases where there is no authorized gambling activity. And the success of the industry as an economic activity is undeniable,” he stated.
“All sectors of the gaming industry must be legalized in order to attract foreign investment and even local operators interested in investing in the country,” defended Pariente.
He recalled that “gambling already exists, it just needs to be legalized, as it does not guarantee revenue for the government. Legalizing guarantees control, creation of formal jobs and attraction of foreign investment.”
Ministry of Tourism
Carlos Henrique Sobral, representing the Minister of Tourism, presented an overview of the sector in Brazil and the challenge that the country has to overcome the mark of 6 million foreign tourists per year.
“Our expectation, with the integrated resorts, will increase the number of jobs by 20%. In terms of investments, we could go from R$5.6 billion (US$ 1.1bn) to R$66 billion (US$ 13bn), while revenues would jump 15%, reaching R$74 billion (US$ 14.5bn).”
According to him, the installation of integrated resorts in Brazil will be preceded by studies and research in terms of social and economic viability so that the locations that will receive such developments can be defined.
Sobral highlighted that 71% of the countries that are part of the UNWTO World Tourism Organization have legalized gaming. And of those who have not legalized the activity, 75% of them are Islamic. “In the G20, 93% of nations have legalized gaming. Only Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia do not authorize it, the last two of which are Islamic.”
He added: “At the UN, 75% have legalized gambling, with Brazil being among the non-Islamic 14% that have not legalized the activity. And in South America, only Brazil and Bolivia have not legalized gambling.”
When defending the activity, Sobral stated that “destinations with integrated resorts have achieved dizzying economic development, with Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore being emblematic.”
Source: GMB
