At the beginning of the meeting, Federal Deputy Cesar Halum, president of the Parliamentary Front of Gaming in the Chamber of Deputies, requested the floor and made the following speech warning of the importance of legalizing the gaming activity in Brazil:
"We fight here to share miseries, a little bit for each one, a misery for each one; and we have an opportunity to make a better distribution and strengthen the various followings if the Brazilian government had the courage to legalize the gaming market in Brazil. Because through the legalized gaming we would have an annual collection of R$ 18 billion (US$ 4.8bn) and only in the concession of these games R$ 10 billion (US$ 2.65bn). It would solve the problem of government cash, solve the problem of all these sports, social and public safety. But the government insists on being afraid to put that matter to be debated within that House. We can summarize this, my leader André Moura, in a single sentence: "Brazil tolerates illegal gambling." Everyone knows that ilegal gaming exists, knows where are casinos, bingos, jogo do bicho and tolerates it, but insists on banning the legal activity. You need to change the tip for the police to let you play for a tax that can finance the various follow-ups that we need to strengthen in Brazil. So I take this opportunity to make that placement to the government leader. This matter is ready, just go to the plenary, we are ready to vote, parliament is like that, decides voting. And I understand that if 158 countries in the world have the gaming activity legalized and that in South America only Bolivia and Brazil does not have; I do not know why this fear of legalizing. We have to turn gaming into an economic activity," he concluded.
Halum's speech was supported by Deputy Deley (PTB/RJ), who said that the country lives a great hypocrisy:
"I would define, Dep Halum, that question that your excellency raised, and there I included it: we live a great hypocrisy in Brazil, that is the great truth. All that Dep. Halum said is a great truth. And I do not like gambling, the only game I like is soccer ... horse, I've never seen a horse race, but anyway ... I think in the end we managed to build what is possible and I congratulate you and thank you for your excellencies", said the parliamentarian also commenting on the final text of PM 846.
The legalization projects of gaming in Brazil are waiting to be decided by the presidents of both Houses to be debated in plenary. Senate PLS 186/2014 was approved by the Economic Development Commission at the end of 2016, but was rejected by the Constitution and Justice Commission earlier this year. For having been evaluated by two committees can still be voted in plenary to be approved or rejected by the senators.
The House bill, PL 244/1991, was approved by the special commission that also analyzed the matter in 2016 and has since waited to be appointed by the president of the House, Rodrigo Maia, to be voted in plenary.
Congressman Cesar Halum will not be in the next legislature that will comprise the National Congress as of January 1, 2019. The congressman was a candidate for Senate by the state of Tocantins in the 2018 elections, but was not elected by having 14.45% of the votes, behind the elected Iraja (PSD), with 16.82% and Eduado Gomes (Solidariedade) with 19.48% of the votes.
Source: GMB
