The ban on gambling in Brazil is over. In the House of Representatives, eight bills are being passed that legalize casinos, bingo and other modalities. A survey conducted in May this year indicates that a significant number of federal deputies are already in favor of changing the law. The initiative with the largest number of supporters is to propose to direct health programs 15% of bingo revenues (PL 3489/2008). But for Professor Dario Paixão, general coordinator of Positivo Graduate and Continuing Education of Positivo University, legalization can bring other benefits to Brazil, which also need to be considered, with attention to the balance between advantages and impacts.
“We have never been so close to the return of casinos or the legalization of gambling in Brazil,” says Dario Paixão, who is also a tourism researcher. In the survey conducted by Paraná Research, which consulted a sample of 238 federal deputies (46% of the total of 513 parliamentarians), 52% said they were in favor of gambling and 7% said they were undecided. As for the best way to use part of the revenue from gaming to meet societal demands - a common point for most projects in the House - the professor believes that directing these resources only to health is not the best alternative.
“What happens most in other countries is the financing of infrastructure for the cities where gaming is developed,” says Dario Paixão, who also considers important to prioritize education. “It is also necessary to use part of these resources to support research, workforce qualification, even in areas that will benefit, such as tourism and hospitality,” he adds. He acknowledges, however, that some of these resources need to be allocated to treatment of gambling addicts, a negative impact of this type of activity, but that, considering the examples of other countries, does not prevent the release of the sector.
For the professor and researcher who has been studying casinos for a long time, not all gambling modalities that can be legalized in Brazil have the same potential to generate the same benefits for society. “Casinos can help in the development of more competitive quality tourist centers, especially resorts. Bingo, jogo do bicho, bookmakers, slot machines, on the other hand, are ways to raise money from the local community and not from those who are visiting us,” he says.
Specifically about casinos, Paixão highlights the model adopted in Chile as one of the best and that is the option that should be considered by Brazil. In that country, explains the professor, there are few casinos, all of which must be located in tourist regions. "Casinos are not the 'lifeline' but they can help some cities become more competitive tourist destinations," he notes.
In South America, only Brazil and Ecuador do not yet allow casinos and other gambling modalities. “We have to face the reality that many people play here in Brazil on internet sites, travel to play, play on cruises that take money to other countries. With courage, we have to answer what is the appropriate presence and role of gaming in Brazilian society,” emphasizes the professor and researcher at Positivo University.
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