Hopes of modernizing Brazil’s gaming regulations were dashed yesterday as a crucial Senate panel dealt a significant setback to proposed changes.
Despite strong enthusiasm from local and global gaming entities, Senate Bill 186/2014, intended to authorize bingo, internet sports wagering, and casinos, was decisively rejected by the Constitution and Justice Committee in a 13-2 decision.
The legislation proposed granting the national government ultimate power in issuing permits for all forms of games of chance. It also aimed to create a specialized federal body to supervise regulation and licensing.
Although the bill had previously made some headway, it was ultimately halted after Senator Magno Malta contested its legality in 2016.
Senator Ciro Nogueira, one of the bill’s drafters, voiced his frustration at the result, contending that the absence of oversight in sports wagering left Brazilian soccer susceptible to dishonest practices. He stressed that gambling already persists and that rejecting the legislation only serves to deny Brazil the potential advantages of a controlled market.
Congressman Benedito de Lira acknowledges the presence of illicit gaming operations and their detrimental effects on society. Government officials are cognizant of this ongoing issue. Currently, efforts are underway to legitimize and regulate gambling enterprises, enabling taxation and job creation.
Proposed legislation, specifically Bill 442/1991, aims to amend existing Brazilian gambling regulations. Initially presented in 1991, this bill, despite calls for expedited voting in 2016, remains pending a vote within the Chamber of Deputies.
Should it proceed to a vote and gain approval, the bill would then require deliberation and voting within the Federal Senate. Any proposed modifications by the Senate would necessitate its return to the Chamber of Deputies for a final vote.
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