Maia makes use of economic arguments, saying that the creation of these new establishments has the potential to double the number of foreign tourists in Brazil, and generate a tax collection of US$6.15 billion per year. The deputies who defend the activity, however, consider the concession for the operation of casinos insufficient.
"The intention is to see if we can, together with the tourism agenda, make integrated hotels with casinos. We believe that we have the possibility to build 32 in Brazil, increase tax collection by US$6.15 billion, and generate 200 thousand jobs. I think this is what we should approve first. More ahead, once we consolidate this, we see if there is another type of gaming activity in the market. We're going to have to build this, instead of staying in the conflict and not approving anything," he argues.
The rejection of the project in the CCJ was celebrated by Paulo Fernando Melo, president of the Brazil without Gaming Movement. According to him, the legalization of the activity would open space for financial crimes, especially money laundering.
"It's a sector that you can not control. We can not control even the dengue mosquito, imagine gaming in every municipality in Brazil," says Melo.
According to senators, the text was rejected because it gave much space for the states to establish the rules of control and collection. Behind the scenes, they tried to close a bill that would give the federal government the task of imposing more rigorous betting operations.
The project that is ready to go to plenary in the Chamber allows the operation of casinos, bingos, jogo do bicho, slot machines and betting online. And it foresees the creation of a regulatory agency, by the federal government, to supervise the gaming establishments.
The president of the Pro-Gaming Parliamentary Front, Deputy César Halum, says that only casino will not bring significant impacts in the generation of jobs and collection. If the text approved by the special commission in August 2016 is approved by the plenary and then by the Senate, he says, a volume of one million Brazilians could be employed in the sector.
"We stand for the legalization of everything. Legalizing half a dozen casinos and generating just over 12,000 jobs does not solve it. All of South America has legalized gaming, only Brazil and Bolivia have not. With that, the Brazilians travel to other countries to play, they leave the dollars there, and we stay here sucking the finger. Our project could generate one million jobs," Halum argues.
Source: GMB / O Globo / Folha de S.Paulo
