Bacelar (Podemos-BA) took the floor of the House, on Tuesday (28), to question the delay in the appreciation of the project that deals with the legalization of games of chance. Bacelar asked the president of the House, Deputy Rodrigo Maia (DEM-RJ), to include the matter on the voting list immediately.
The leader of Podemos in Bahia once again defended the liberation of gaming as a way of injecting resources into the country's economy, especially in the areas of health, education and social security.
"We lose over US$ 6.2 billion per year without legalization. It is almost a US$ 930 million lost only with online gaming. It is hypocritical to say that, with illegality, Brazilians will stop gambling. We have the slot machines, jogo do bicho and new betting modalities, in every corner. You can’t close your eyes. I think of alternatives to invest in key sectors of the country." Project 442/91 is now ready for consideration in plenary. "The industry has been waiting for approval of the proposal for 25 years. We are two and a half decades behind, losing foreign exchange to international casinos, "Bacelar charged.
Check out Bacelar's speech during the plenary session of the House of Representatives:
"Soon the illustrious colleague occupying the rostrum wanted to oppose the legalization of gambling in Brazil. I draw the attention again saying that in no society there is the option gaming and not gaming. The only option we have is legal gambling or illegal gambling. And Brazil must legalize the activity.
There are millions of Brazilians who daily place their bets on jogo do bicho, on lotteries, officials and on the internet. Speaking on the internet, it is worth remembering that we have more than 400 international betting sites in Brazil today. Bets that generate annual prizes of about US$ 2.8 billion. If we apply the average taxation of the world's gaming area, this would annually result in a revenue in Brazil, only with internet bets, of US$ 835 million that could be invested in social security, education, and health care in a country where public services meet the miserable situation.
The noble deputy spoke here of the problem of ludopathy. Yes, it's a risk. But, according to scientific studies, ludopathy is around 1% of the number of players. Alcoholism has a much higher rate, ranging from 3 to 5%, and I do not see here no deputy proposing to close bars, restaurants, distilleries, breweries and so on.
We need to decide urgently about it. Rodrigo Maia needs to take up this issue that has been under discussion in this House for tens of years, and the Special Committee has already made its report. Here is an appeal to President Rodrigo Maia and to all the honorable Members: we urgently need to decide this issue and legalize gambling in Brazil."
Source: GMB
