Brazil confirms Senate session

Although legalisation seems close, several legislators expressed their disagreement.

Brazil.- Brazilian Senate has set the date to vote on the gambling legalisation that could bring access to the most expected market in Latin America. Next December 7, legislators will define whether the country allows or rejects the development of legal casino, bingo, iGaming and lottery industries.

The Senate will carry out the ballot just before the summer recess, as the president of the Parlament, Renan Calheiros confirmed yesterday. If the gaming bill is not passed by then, legislators will begin another debate by 2017. This week, several members of the Senate presented a formal report against the legalisation.

However, Brazilian authorities are ready to vote on the bill that has left the international gaming industry expectant since 2015. A year before, the Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI) introduced the gaming project to legalise all gaming sectors, including sports betting and online casinos, as well as casino resorts, jogo do bicho and sweepstakes.

Last week, the Senate’s Special Committee on National Development passed the complete gaming bill, including the amendments added by Senator Fernando Bezerra (PSB-PE) and also approved by the first instance of the legislature.