JUE 28 DE MARZO DE 2024 - 21:35hs.
Meeting with congressman Newton Cardoso Junior (MDB)

Jair Bolsonaro says he is in favor of legalizing gaming in Brazil

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro met last Thursday with deputy from Mina Gerais state Newton Cardoso Junior (MDB), who chairs the House Tourism Commission. Among several issues, the congressman told to Bolsonaro about his position regarding the legalization of gaming and casinos in Brazil. The President reaffirmed that he is in favor of regulating the activity. However, he said that this must be a decision of each of the states of the federation.

In a mild meeting, as reported by Radar column, in Veja magazine, Jair Bolsonaro and Newton Cardoso Jr, talked about the legalization of gaming in Brazil. The congressman told the president of the republic that he is in favor of regulating the activity, especially in resort casinos and that this is one of his priorities in the Tourism Commission of the Chamber of Deputies.

The president welcomed the deputy's idea and supported his initiative. However, Bolsonaro stated that the legalization of gaming should be done by each state and that they should create their own rules for the supervision and control of the activity.

In addition to this latest statement, the Bolsonaro government has given other signs of interest in legalizing the gaming market such as the meeting of Economy Minister Paulo Guedes with the author of Bill 186/2016, senator Ciro Nogueira; statements by Tourism Minister Marcelo Álvaro Antônio supporting resort casinos but no other gaming modalities; and more recently, a poll conducted on social networks by federal congresswoman Joice Hasselmann (PSL-SP), the congressional government leader who asked about the reopening of casinos to her followers.

A month ago, parliamentarians from the Tourism Commission, led by congressman Newton Cardoso Jr., met with House’s President Rodrigo Maia to present the priority projects to encourage the sector and ask for speed in voting on these proposals.

In the third point of the petition appears the application for approval of Bill 442/91, which legalizes all gambling activity, not just in resort casinos.

Last Thursday's meeting ended with congressman Newton Cardoso Jr. delivering a cheese gift to the president that was sent by the parliamentarian's father, the former governor of Minas Gerais, Newton, Bolsonaro's friend.

Source: GMB