Brazil land-based bill rapporteur expects vote on bill before year end

Brazilian senator Irajá Silvestre is confident the bill to legalise land-based casinos in Brazil will be voted on by the end of 2024, despite various setbacks so far.

The wait for land-based legalisation in Brazil continues after the vote on Bill 2,234/2022, which includes casinos, bingo, jogo do bicho and betting on horseracing, was once again pushed back in October.

The bill was approved back in June by the Justice and Citizenship Committee (CCJ) on a 14-12 vote. But despite it being ready to go to the plenary, it remains yet to be voted on with less than two months left of the year.

However, the bill’s rapporteur Irajá still has full faith in the legalisation getting over the line by the end of 2024.

Speaking to Games Magazine Brazil on 30 October at the SBC Summit Latinoamérica 2024, Irajá said: “I am very confident that we will finally vote on it in the senate plenary this year.

“President Rodrigo Pacheco, who is leading the proceedings in the house, is convinced of the importance of this bill for the country and of delivering this social and economic agenda, a new business environment for Brazilians early next year.”

The economic benefits of land-based legalisation in Brazil

One of the key advantages of the legalisation of land-based gambling will be fiscal. Irajá expects legalisation to generate over 1.5 million jobs, more than BRL100 billion in new investments in Brazil as well as around BRL20 billion in taxes to the state.

“Therefore, this issue is ready for evaluation and discussion by senators and, of course, we must form the conviction and the majority so that this matter is approved. Finally this issue, after 33 years of discussion in congress, can bring to light to an activity that is so important to the Brazilian economy,” Irajá added.

Why the ongoing stalemate with the bill?

Bill 2,234/2022 has now been pushed back on multiple occasions. Following the CCJ’s decision in June, many expected the senate plenary to vote on the bill after its return from recess on 1 August.

That never materialised and, with politicians’ focus elsewhere due to the municipal elections on 6 October, Irajá again said the time wasn’t yet right to get the bill over the line.

Irajá says it’s important the vote happens, however, especially in the face of those already offering land-based gambling illegally. He believes it is in the government’s best interest to both legalise and subsequently regulate land-based gambling as soon as possible.

“Either we cover the sun with a sieve and pretend that gambling does not exist and continue to operate clandestinely, illegally and under the command of organised crime, or we address the issue and approve responsible gambling, which is the type of gambling that is purified by the government, monitored, taxed and that generates millions of jobs,” Irajá explained.

“This is what we are advocating: to bring serious people into this market, honest people, honest companies, companies that will contribute to the country’s economic growth.”

The online gambling market is currently undergoing regulation and will be set live on 1 January 2025.