Brazil – Senate Committee approves Brazilian gaming bill

35 casinos, lottery, electronic games, online sports betting and bingo games will be allowed in accordance to the bill’s text.

Brazil.- The Special Committee on National Development has approved Senate Bill Brazil 186/2014, which aims to establish a legal and regulatory framework, for both land based and online gambling. The text would allow for 35 casinos -one per state, and up to three in larger ones- and it will also authorise lottery and other electronic games, as well as online sports betting and bingo games. If approved, each Brazilian state could decide the type of gambling allowed within its borders.

Authored by Sen. Blairo Maggi, the Bill voted yesterday (Wednesday 9th) is part of the “Agenda Brazil,” a set of legislative proposals put forward by the President of the Senate, Renan Calheiros, intended to boost a much needed revenue for the government, facing a troubled economy.

The text is a revised version of a 2014 bill that proposed legal framework -regarding licences, distribution of prizes and taxes- for bingo halls, casinos, slot parlours and the popular “Jogo do Bicho” or “Animal Game.” Currently, the only gambling authorised in Brazil are lotteries, horseracing and live poker tournaments. And according to rep. Ciro Nogueira, who sponsored Bill 186, the new legislation could generate an annual US$ 4b for the government, plus a direct impact on Brazil’s economy through job creation.

The bill generated some controversy among Brazilian representatives and had a number of amendments added, therefore the committee will vote again on it next week. If approved, it would proceed to the full Senate for a vote, and then it will be considered by Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies. Once it receives a favourable vote on the lower House of Representatives President Dilma Rousseff could sign the bill into law.