Of the meeting that has "Legalization of games of chance" as only topic in the agenda, it is also expected to participate Waldery Rodrigues (Special Secretary of Finance), Alexandre Manoel Angelo da Silva (Secretary of Evaluation, Planning, Energy and Lottery), Vitor Saback (Special Adviser of the Minister) and Marcelo Pontes (Chief of Staff of Senator Ciro Nogueira).
After receiving an opinion by the rejection in the Commission of Constitution, Justice and Citizenship (CCJ) in 2018, the Bill of 186/2014 that rules the operation of games of chance throughout the national territory had been filed at the end of the Legislature ( article 332 of the RISF).
The author of the PL, Senator Ciro Nogueira, obtained the unlocking of the matter through the application 144/2019 and now awaits inclusion in the Agenda for discussion in a single shift, ready for deliberation of the Plenary.
Nogueira defended the legalization of all types of games and cites the cases of sports betting shops that now carry resources abroad and of the gaming machines. “There are more slots in Brazil than in the United States, but here [in Brazil] the government has no financial return,” Nogueira protested.
The project
The main points foreseen in the project are:
Gaming modalities
According to the proposal, online gaming will be regularized and allowed. According to the bill, jogo do bicho, bingo (online and face-to-face), casino games (online and in leisure complexes), sports and non-sports bets (online and in person) would be regulated.
Companies
Companies interested in exploiting gaming will have to prove fiscal regularity, financial suitability and absence of criminal records. The legal entity must register and legally exercise its activities. A public selection process will be carried out to select establishments suitable to run a casino. The company that has the largest investment has an advantage over the other competitors of the authorization. The accreditation of the casino houses will be granted (public deed) with a duration of thirty years. For bingo it will be twenty years and for ‘jogo do bicho’ will be ten years. The three deadlines are renewable.
Player
For the player, according to the text, the requirement will be the presentation of an identity document and a Personal Identification Number (CPF). Those who live outside Brazil will have to show their passport. The establishments will inform the federal government every time a player earns prizes above R$ 10,000 (US$ 2,580) at a single time. The entrance of gamblers (people with addiction to games of chance), will be prohibited.
Inspection
The federal government will be responsible for overseeing casinos and online gambling, the statement said, and states and the Federal District would oversee accredited establishments, such as bingo houses.
Fines
Regarding punishments, companies that do not comply with the requirements of the supervisory bodies will be subject to fines ranging from R$ 10 thousand (US$ 2,580) to R$ 500 thousand (US$ 130,000) until the loss of authorization to exploit games of chance. The fines will be reversed in investments in security public. The application of a fine may occur within a maximum period of sixty days, and the suspension of the activities of the house within a period of up to thirty days. The authorized establishments will not be able to carry out financing for players. The owners of the companies will not be able to participate in the games and have the remuneration calculated from the movement of the bets.
Result Fraud
Anyone who defrauds or adulterates the result of games of chance may receive a penalty of six months to two years imprisonment and fine. The entrepreneur who exploits gambling without accreditation by the government, will be subject to serve three months to a year of detention plus fine. This last penalty will also apply to those who allow under 18s to place bets. The Central Bank will implement control mechanisms to avoid transactions with debit and credit cards that aim to participate in games offered by non-accredited companies.
Casinos
Casinos should operate alongside complexes that have hotels, shopping centers, restaurants and bars, party rooms and will offer card games, electronic games and roulette. The states will appoint, and the federal government will choose the regions where casinos will be opened with the aim of encouraging tourism.
Social contribution
The bill creates the "social contribution" of companies that will exploit gaming. Leisure complexes with casinos, bingo houses, and poker will have to pass on part of the profits to the federal government, which will revert the money in investments in the area of Health, Welfare and Social Assistance. From the collection of the accredited physical establishments, excluding the value of the prizes, 10% of the resources will go to the Union. Of the collection of the companies that will offer online games, not counting the value of the prizes, 15% will go to the federal government. The contribution will be monthly. Of the amount collected, 30% will be delivered to states and the Federal District and another 30% to the municipalities. The resources will be applied compulsorily in health, welfare and social assistance.
Politicians
Deputies, senators, mayors, councilors and all who hold an elective office are prohibited from opening gaming venues. Just like second degree relatives, husbands or wives and family members who were adopted.
Source: Games Magazine Brasil
