The proposal is part of Agenda Brasil, the agenda presented by Senate President Renan Calheiros, with the aim of encouraging the resumption of economic growth in the country. "We did a thorough study of this theme, listening to all segments related to gambling, Federal, the Public Prosecutor, the entities that are against to be able to have a broad concept to formulate an opinion.”
"The option is not to release gaming and allow something that does not exist. When comes to
legalizationis to give a legal basis
to something that already exists. So I ask whether
jogo do
bicho exists or not?," asked Elmar Nascimento during an interview with Itapoan Fm radio, on Tuesday (14). "Which option do we have? Keep it as a contravention because nobody is punished since it is a crime of low punitive content, or legalize and
control?," added the deputy.
Still according to the parliamentarian "600 thousand people live directly or indirectly of the
jogo do
bicho in Brazil. No one can have a formal contract, social security right, they will not retire, because they are in an illegal activity. From the moment of legalization, they will open up company, have state control. Instead of
contravention, we will be liable to imprisonment for those who face the law."
The project provides for the creation of a maximum of 29 casinos throughout Brazil that would run in resorts specific to this public. "It's not a casino, it's a resort, but a maximum of 10% of the area would go to the casino. The audience is international, focused on international tourism," he said, noting that there would be an improvement in tourism and in the schedule of international shows in Bahia.
Regarding the state's revenue, according to Elmar, "in the short
term there would be a collection of US$ 6 billion". According to the deputy, the treasury, Caixa
Econômica and specialized media estimate that with the implementation of online gaming that number would grow pass to US$ 12 billion and "fully
functioning with all integrated resorts would be around US$ 18 billion, in addition to tourist attraction with shows that we do not have in Brazil," he concluded.
Source: GMB / Midiabahia
