The Brazilian Senate has postponed a crucial vote on a invoice that seeks to legalize a number of types of playing, together with casinos, bingo, on-line gaming, horse racing, and the favored however unlawful jogo do bicho (a conventional Brazilian lottery recreation). The resolution to delay the vote was made as a consequence of low attendance within the chamber and ongoing political divisions amongst senators.
Senate President Davi Alcolumbre, who introduced the delay on Tuesday, July 8, defined that the vote was faraway from the agenda as a result of solely 56 senators had been current, far under the required quorum for such a major legislative resolution. Alcolumbre defined, “The quorum is very low – 56 senators. Due to a big divergence in opinion and the absence of Senators, I will officially remove this from today’s agenda.” No new date has been set for the vote, and the invoice now stays in limbo.
The Gambling Legalization Bill and Its Impact
The invoice, often called Bill 2,234, was designed to finish a virtually 80-year prohibition on playing that was first enacted in 1946. It would enable for the legalization of casinos, video bingo, horse racing betting, and jogo do bicho. This proposal has been the topic of a lot debate, with sturdy help from some lawmakers and harsh opposition from others.
Senator Irajá, one of many invoice’s primary proponents, highlighted the potential financial advantages of playing legalization, together with R$100 billion (round US$18.35 billion) in investments, the creation of over 1.5 million jobs, and a rise in tax income, estimated to be R$25 billion (US$4.6 billion). “The main benefit of the bill is to allow contravention to move into a regulated framework, reducing possible links between gambling and organised crime,” Senator Irajá said, emphasizing the advantages of transitioning unlawful playing right into a regulated system.
Opposition and Political Divisions
Despite the potential financial advantages, the invoice has confronted vital resistance from conservative lawmakers, spiritual teams, and different members of the Senate. Critics argue that legalizing playing might exacerbate points associated to dependancy, improve the facility of legal organizations, and result in better social issues. The opposition has been vocal about their issues, with some lawmakers pushing for the invoice to endure extra scrutiny in numerous Senate committees.
Senator Eduardo Girão, a vocal critic of the proposal, celebrated the delay and urged that the invoice be despatched to 3 Senate committees for additional evaluation. He argued {that a} roll-call vote needs to be held when the invoice ultimately returns to the Senate ground. “The public is deeply concerned,” Girão mentioned. “I would like the bill to be referred to three committees, and when it comes to the floor, that a roll-call vote be held.”
A History of Delays and Divisions
The matter of playing legalization has been on the desk for almost three a long time. The invoice into account was first launched to Congress in 1991, and a number of other makes an attempt to revive the playing trade have been thwarted by ethical objections and issues over its potential destructive results on society. While some lawmakers see the legalization of playing as a possible boon for the Brazilian financial system, the talk stays extremely polarized.
As the difficulty continues to be debated, Senate President Alcolumbre acknowledged that the invoice has been a degree of rivalry for years. “There is clearly a division in the Senate on this issue,” he remarked, stressing that the low attendance and vital disagreements on the matter led to the choice to delay the vote. With solely 56 senators current through the session, Alcolumbre famous the significance of getting all members concerned within the dialogue.
Looking Forward
Although the vote has been postponed, the talk over playing legalization is way from over. Brazil’s Finance Minister has urged for stricter nationwide taxation on betting actions, which might additional complicate the difficulty. While the invoice has sturdy backing from some senators, it faces vital hurdles, particularly given the divided opinion within the Senate and the objections raised by spiritual teams and different conservative factions.
The playing legalization invoice stays a contentious subject, and it’ll possible proceed to be mentioned within the coming months. For now, the Brazilian Senate should work via its variations earlier than the invoice can return for a vote. However, with a divided Senate and no clear path ahead, the way forward for playing in Brazil stays unsure.
Source:
“Senado retira da pauta projeto que autoriza cassinos e legaliza jogo do bicho“, www12.senado.leg.br, July 8, 2025.
