Brazil’s Congress to Vote on Casino Regulation Post-Recess in August
(Sponsored) Brazil is in the headlines again, looking to make inroads into gambling regulations as it did in February with the introduction of the Secretariat for Prizes and Betting (SPA), which was introduced to provide oversight into the nation’s ever-evolving gambling landscape.
SPA’s introduction seems to have toppled a domino of regulatory interest as there have been talks of legalizing online gaming and iGaming, with the processes expected to start later this year, probably after recess or much later next year.
This delay and regulatory uncertainty continue to have far-reaching effects on the Brazilian economy as millions of dollars that could find their way to Brazillian coffers are being received by offshore casinos that service the gaming needs of the locals.
Examples of such offshore casinos licensed by reputable agencies outside the shores of Brazil are Nick Pappas’ expert vetted list of crypto casino apps that allow users access to a range of online casino games.
These crypto and Bitcoin casino apps are popular because of the ease they afford users compared to fiat and the anonymity on offer, as they are not bound by KYC restrictions that plague fiat online casinos.
These, coupled with the fact that these crypto/bitcoin casinos have mobile variants, mean players can have their gaming fill on their commute, at home, or anywhere they choose.
Millions lost!
The same way millions of dollars are lost to offshore online casinos due to regulatory indecisiveness is the same way the lack of regulation of brick-and-mortar casinos continues to hinder how much contribution they can have to the Brazilian economy.
More than just money, Senator Irajá Silvestre Filho, commonly known as Irajá, believes that this regulatory reform can provide “about 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs in the country.”
It is important to note that this bill, Bill 2,234/2022, intended to bring about regulation of brick-and-mortar casinos with its effect reaching horse racing, bingo, instant win games, and jogo do bicho games was recently brought back to life by Senator Irajá after it failed last year.
The bill, in its current form, took nearly ten years to be drafted and another two years for its mediation before it was approved a month ago by the senate committee.
It’s been quite the wait, and Senator Irajá is done waiting. Nobody else knows better than Senate President Rodrigo Otavio Soares Pacheco about his willingness to get the Senate to vote and vote now, before the recess.
“…close this issue of the casino Bill to move on to another agenda…”
Senator Iraja, in a conversation with Istoé magazine, did not mince words about wanting the bill put to the vote before July 18th, which is when the parliamentary recess will start until August 1st. He had this to say:
“I have been talking to President Pacheco as well as President Davi in order to make them aware of the urgency. I trust in President Pacheco’s common sense so that we can do it before the recess. We need to close this issue of the casino Bill to move on to another agenda, which is the regulation of the measure.”
“I am very confident of approval in the Plenary. We have the majority of senators to approve the matter. The text has been on hold for a year and a half and we had the opportunity to have a broad debate, already exhausting this discussion. The matter is ready to be assessed, with all due respect to colleagues who have some divergent opposition, but it is already an ideological issue, a religious issue.”
No Rush
Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco tried to present the bill directly to the Federal Congress after it was approved with 14 to 12 votes before the Evangelical Caucus blocked his attempt.
The Evangelical bloc, a rising political base, argues that the bill is still incomplete in its current form and needs additional safeguards with consumer protection in mind.
Regardless, the Senate President maintains that there’s no rush and there are other matters that take precedence and will be discussed with priority, leaving the casino bill till after recess.
Here are his words:
“This topic has completed the committee phase, now it’s time to find a date to discuss it in the Senate Plenary. This topic has already been discussed enough, whoever is in favor is in favor, whoever is against is against. Everyone has their arguments. It is very important that it submit to the vote.”
“There is no need to rush this. We can vote perfectly after the recess. But it will be voted on, it will be, because, having passed through the Chamber, through the Senate’s CCJ, with a pre-disposition from the Executive, we have to submit it to a vote.”
Right now, all Brazilians can do is lie in wait as the finer details are ironed out and members of the Senate find a consensus that handshakes the profitability of the gambling industry with adequate consumer protection.
In depth
Read More from The Rio Times