"I believe we will finish 2017 with an approved gaming law in Brazil"

GMB - Brazil is experiencing one crisis after another and a few days ago, the case against President Michel Temer was suspended. In what did this delay once again the passage of a broad gaming law?
Olavo Sales da Silveira - Brazil is a country that lives a paradox. At the same time that we have to work in perennial situations, for the medium and long term, we have to live with the presidency and Congress putting out fires. This position, especially after the denunciations, created a delicate situation, because nobody can stop to think about projects and approval of laws of national interest. The entire Brasilia establishment is thinking of survival. Voting the necessary reforms and embracing an unpopular cause or bet on the fall of the presidency and change of position, forgetting the emergency situations, which is the approval of these reforms. Thus, it is very difficult to process any bill that involves seriousness and planning, with construction of ways to solve the Brazilian problems. Both the presidency and Congress, faced with the accusations, are thinking on saving their own skin.

You spoke of the reforms. The country needs to discuss the budget deficit while discussing investment cuts and raising taxes, creating a more uncertain climate. How could the government gain the confidence of Congress approving projects of interest to the country and stop postponing issues such as passing a law for the sector that would bring in so much financial resources?
The government is living a very difficult time. The support of the president is to give economic stability to Brazil. It will only be achieved with the approval of the reforms, because the government's cash is on the limit. To fix this, the government needs to pass measures that demand 3/5 of Congress. The fragility of the presidency leaves the MPs in a comfortable position to refuse to establish an agenda that allows the economic correction of the country. The House does not want to put itself at risk of adopting unpopular measures, and the presidency does not have the strength to impose an agenda on Congress. That is, we have a wandering government, without a consistent proposal, that may have to give up voting on projects that represent constitutional changes because they only have a majority to approve simple majority projects. This can become an opportunity for the government to vote on projects that bring solutions. And among the projects I see as viable is the one related to gaming, which brings an estimated US$ 5.7 billion in revenue, extremely necessary for the economic agenda of the presidency at this time.

In other words, the fragility may be in favor of the gaming industry...
Yes. The government was aiming to approve constitutional changes, but it does not have enough number of deputies to achieve this. But it managed to bar the authorization to sue the president, which shows that it has a simple majority, which allows approving projects. I would say that one of the most interesting projects for the government, that is running behind US$ 317 million here and another similar amount there, cutting expenses etc, is the project that authorizes gaming. We need to put in the agenda of the government's economic sector the view that approving the law of gambling means putting in the coffers of the government a value of US$ 5.7 billion. It's a great opportunity right now.

Are you and the industry leaders trying to put Brazil's economic agenda on passage of the law that allows gaming in the country?
Exactly. We understand that there is a political structure that does not evaluate long-term projects, but there are career groups within the government that continue to work, whether under any government. Thus, we want to show these professionals the real benefits of the gaming industry. They are, ultimately, those who lead the country's structure, both in the Ministries of Finance, Planning and Tourism. They are technicians and will make technical decisions. That is, they need to be our focus of work to show them the vision that should have already been politically absorbed, but that for lack of stability, did not happen. Technical teams will be able to find solutions that politicians did not know how to lead.

Considering all this analysis do you believe it will be possible to pass a law for the industry later this year?
I believe that within 30 to 60 days the government will take initiatives in this area. In this time frame or it is headed for a majority that allows the government to continue working on the approval of constitutional amendments to major reforms, which is the great objective of this government, or will see that it can not and will have to create facts and solutions for governability from the country. There, the gaming industry will be a priority agenda, as it proposes to put US$ 5.7 billion at the disposal of the country. That is, the government is working to constitute a majority. If it succeeds, it approves reforms and deals with the gaming industry. If you find that you do not get this majority, you will see in the sector an alternative for collection. Then, up to a maximum of 90 days, we will be responsible for approving the activity. The rest will be processed, which will depend on the normal schedule. I believe we will end 2017 with an approved law and next year the materialization of the sector through the operational implementation of the activity.

Source: GMB Exclusive