GMB - Why did you have the idea of create the ‘Aposta Certa’ group? Did more people found the group with you?
Alexandre Maier - Virtually all friends and former co-workers are the founders and supporters of our page. We created it because of the need for information about the profession, the fragility of our jobs, which generate much subject in our work environment. I had the idea of relaying information and news about gaming generating content for debate and creating a meeting point and uniqueness to all bingo and video bingo workers in Brazil. And that is how I created the ‘Aposta Certa’ Facebook Page. Now we are on Instagram, Twitter and Telegram.
Tell us about your story...
I have worked in bingo since 1999, and the first bingo I started was called Marajoara, in the south of São Paulo, on Interlagos Avenue. Since then, I've worked in this business as a salesman, later learned to work at the control desk, which is the gaminge manager itself. I worked in other bingos later, including in several cities of the interior of São Paulo. I practically occupied all the professional functions that exist within a bingo, including more administrative functions providing training for all areas such as management, finance, human resources, control desk, sales, etc...
What do you think will happen with the law? Do you think that the gambling legalization project will be approved?
I believe that Brazil is "behind" in comparison to the world in several issues, but, regarding the gambling, we are living a hypocrisy, because the market already exists!
In each city of the country gambling is a reality. I can mention the main modalities:
- Caixa lotteries
- Jogo do bicho
- Tele sena
- Horse racing betting
- Capitalization bonds and contribution certificates
- Electronic Keno
- Poker houses
- Church bingos
- Charities bingos
- Games in mobile apps
- Online sports and casino betting sites
- Clandestine bingos and video bingo all over the country
All of this already exists, but some are regulated and some are not. See the hypocrisy of this question, some are legal and some not. I believe that it is key and urgent to widely legalize gambling in the country, because it is a fact and their existence justifies the creation of an updated, fair and safe regulation and legislation to be practiced in the country by all companies in this segment, being supervised by a competent body. I believe that we will legalize it in the future, but we need to accelerate this process. We need to unite all Brazilians who are in favor of legalization and support this cause.
What advantages do you see in legalizing bingos?
Many ones for the State. With a fair tax collection, the country will have an increase in its revenue. Another advantage is the identification of gamblers who face psychological and social problems with gambling addiction. Having the chance to take preventive, restrictive, informative and appropriate treatment to compulsive gamblers.
There are thousands of video bingo workers around the country but will there be vacancies for everyone who is already employed? I do not think so. It is neccesary for the union of all workers to seek in some way to secure jobs for those who are already working.
And speaking of professional and qualified casino workforce, Brazil currently has a ready workforce, much more than when it first started bingo halls in Brazil. These professionals, like me, have been active for many years and know the activity scene in depth, with expertise in the subject.
We will also have a huge increase in tourists coming to Brazil with casinos, no doubt, but we need to qualify bingo and video bingo workers for other forms of casino gambling that are unknown to us to claim and protect the right to work, preventing these jobs from being filled by foreign labor that is already qualified for these novelties to the local market in Brazil.
How many former bingo workers do you think there are in the country?
I can make an estimate. I suppose there are over 300,000 former employees across Brazil.
It is a fact that many gaming activities are developed in Brazil without proper supervision because they are not yet legalized. What problems do the lack of a regulatory framework generate for workers? Do you have labor rights?
Numerous problems, I say on behalf of the whole class that the lack of continuous work is the most serious. There are lawsuits for misdemeanor and occasionally mostly working illegally, there is discrimination by society when they have to talk about their profession, which in our eyes is as normal as any, because we work in entertainment, nothing more than that. And due to the informality of the sector, the activity is without any labor protection, without rights like any other profession; very few gaming houses in Brazil can formalize the legal hiring of their employees.
Source: Exclusivo GMB
