While Brazilian parliamentary representatives do not approve the legalization
of casinos in hotels, the President of Frentur - Parliamentary Front in Defense
of Tourism-, Deputy Federal Herculano Passos (PSD-SP), continues to listen to
opinions of experts and businessmen on the subject. Yesterday, May 10th, he met
in Brasilia with Las Vegas Sands Corp. CEO, Sheldon Adelson, who operates the Venetian
Macao, the world's largest casino with almost 28,000 square meters. The Group
also controls nine other casinos in the US, Macau and Singapore.
Passos participated in a lunch with Adelson and executives of the Group and
mediated meetings between them and the presidents of the Republic, Michel
Temer, and the Chamber of Deputies, Rodrigo Maia. "Sands invested US$ 6
billion in Singapore and US$ 14 billion in Macao. It is a very strong group
that has an interest in investing in Brazil, but can not do so without an
established regulatory framework. Our purpose in promoting these meetings with
the presidents was to try to sensitize them that Brazil can receive big
investments, which will bring many jobs and income to the country. But for
this, the project of legalizing gaming, which is in the House or the Senate,
must be approved," he stressed.
Las Sands operates integrated resorts that encompass luxury hotels, casinos,
shopping malls, restaurants, first-class entertainment venues, convention and
exhibition facilities and various leisure businesses. Both the proposed
legalization in the Chamber and the Senate predict that casinos in Brazil, when
legalized, can only function in these kind of venues.
According to the Group's CEO, the investment made in
Singapore and Macao changed the two countries. "In 2007, when we
inaugurated the Venetian in Macau, the country received 2.5 million visitors.
Today it's 32 million. In Singapore, in just three years, we have increased the
number of tourists in the country by 62% ".
Source: GMB / Revista Hotéis
