The release of casino games has gain momentum in Brazil during the last couple of months. Recently, the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, participated in a meeting with Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP / PI), author of PL 186/2014 that deals with the liberation of casino games in the country. It was the first sign that the Bolsonaro administration is seriously considering a profound legislative change in this matter.
Stance change? Not so much
Many may be surprised by this opening of a conservative president to the influence of an activity as gaming in the Brazilian society. Only the fact that Guedes reunites with Nogueira already represents a denial of the basic principle that gambling is a sin. Especially who remembers that video, during the election campaign, in which Bolsonaro declared to be a lie, by his opponents, the claim that he was preparing to release the games of chance in Brazil.
However, the reality is a bit more flexible. Bolsonaro's statements in that video, betting on democracy and in direct contact with the voter, were a little different from what he gave to an audience of Rio entrepreneurs in May 2018. The campaign was still warming up and Bolsonaro said he was against gambling, but "let's see what the best way out," as reported local media Valor Econômico. It would be important to avoid having a slot machine in every corner, but the candidate was open to allowing gambling to function as another driver of economic development.
The online gaming issue
The local media did not give details about the meeting, but it is likely that Ciro Nogueira reminded Paulo Guedes of the influence that online casino sites have been having on the domestic market. There is little point on insisting in a ban if everyone can access a foreign casino site right on their cell phone.
Bolsonaro and the door that has already been opened
Anyone who does not believe that Bolsonaro could be preparing such a "scandal", selling a principle in favor of an economic development project, can remember that sports betting has already been released in our country. Silently and discreetly, it is true, and still waiting for regulation of the Treasury, but the approval of the fixed-betting scheme was one of the first "measures" requested by the president-elect to Congress. So much so that President Temer still had the task of sanctioning the new law last December. It has been proved that Bolsonaro has his flexibility in this question of the role of gaming in society.
From Dutra to Bolsonaro: the irony
Casino activity was banned in Brazil in 1946, through the action of President Eurico Dutra. The old legend says that the influence of his highly religious wife would have been decisive in the decision. Brazil has continued to be one of the countries with the most restrictive legislation in this regard, until today.
It will be highly ironic that the most conservative president of the last few decades will be one that will open doors to gambling.
Source: GMB/ The World News
