Brazilian Senate postpones vote on legalise casinos, bingo and jogo do bicho
The bill’s future hangs in the balance with no new vote date announced.
Key points:
– Senate vote on gambling legalisation bill postponed due to low quorum
– Bill would legalise casinos, bingos, online games and jogo do bicho
– Only Brazil-based companies would be eligible to operate
The Brazilian Senate has postponed the vote on a controversial bill that would legalise various forms of land-based gambling in the operation of casinos, bingos, online games, horserace betting and the traditional jogo do bicho, a popular lottery-style game in Brazil.
The proposal faced resistance from more conservative lawmakers and was withdrawn from the last Senate session due to low attendance. Critics warn of risks tied to crime and gambling addictions, while supporters argue that regulation will bring revenue and economic growth.
Senate President Davi Alcolumbre stated “The quorum is very low – 56 senators. Due to a big divergence in opinion and the absence of Senators, I will officially remove this from today’s agenda.”
The bill, already approved by the lower house and by the Senate’s Constitution and Justice Commission now remains in limbo.
The project aims to end Brazil’s decades-long prohibition on games of chance, dating back to a 1946 law. Operations would be limited to companies headquartered in Brazil and restricted to authorised locations.
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Senator Irajá defended the regulation as a way to shift existing grey-market activity under state control.
“The main benefit of the bill is to allow contravention to move into a regulated framework, reducing possible links between gambling and organised crime,” he said.
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