Batelli was one of Las Vegas' most important ambassadors for Brazilian tourists and investors. His arrival in the city began to intensify from 1966, when Caesars Palace was built. From then, Ciro began to study the casino theme as a hobby. Because he likes games so much, he hoped that one day in Brazil it would be possible to open casinos too. In the 1970s he was chairman of the casino opening committee in Brazil.
He worked as a reporter for several TV shows and was director of special projects for the Amaury Jr. Program at Rede TV and Domingão do Faustão at TV Globo. He lived in Las Vegas, being an expert when it came to bingo and casinos. Former CEO of Caesars Group, he has been considered one of the top authorities in casinos worldwide. Las Vegas honored him by putting his name on one of the city's streets. He has also worked as a reporter on several TV shows.
Batelli was a family symbol. His great relationship with his wife and children made it possible for him to have all the support he needed to be able to live in another country and cultivate a legion of friends.
He was a member of the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce. As always promoted the city of Las Vegas around the world believing that the best entertainment destination was in Nevada. He reported that his heart was divided between Brazil and the United States. The world of casinos was part of his life. Working with Vips clients, he had many unusual moments with the biggest celebrities. His personal credibility has greatly helped to consolidate his professional career.
The story of how a boy from Sao Paulo’s municipality Ribeirão Preto became vice president of the gigantic Caesars International organization in the gaming’s world capital was enough to make him a celebrity. Batelli was well known to a large circle of friends and customers who have visited Las Vegas for the past 30 years. Brazilians in large numbers were greeted by the Caesars fake legionaries with special attention from Ciro.
He also became a regular frequenter of Amaury Junior's program on the Bandeirantes TV network and had his image spread throughout Brazil. But celebrity himself, Ciro came to know when he decided to assume his relationship with the first lady of Brazilian television, ‘her majesty’, Hebe Camargo. It was then that he knew what it was like to wake up with phone calls from reporters and to be chased by eight newspapers from the local press in the streets of Sao Paulo.
About how he got to Ceasars, Batelli told a cute anecdote: “In 1985 I was in Las Vegas to watch a Sugar Ray Leonard fight. This time, instead of my wife, I traveled with my mother-in-law, with whom, by the way, I get along very well. The phone rings. It's Terry Lanni's secretary, Caesars number 1 at the time, inviting me to dinner. At this dinner there were more executives than I expected. Lanni invites me to take over Caesars' Latin American department in Atlantic City. I said, "I give you an answer tomorrow." No one understood. “What do you mean, Ciro? We have 11,000 employees, and they all want the position we are offering you.” I said: 'I'm sorry, Terry, but I have to consult my mother-in-law first.'
In 2011, Ciro granted an interesting interview to Playboy Brasil magazine from which he analyzed the situation of casinos in Brazil along with his work and support to legalize them. Here we reproduce some of the best passages of this interview to dear Ciro:
PLAYBOY - Why are there no casinos in Brazil?
BATELLI - First, because of false morals, it's been a long time. Hypocrisy, even longer. And serious regulation is missing. Casino is a very serious business. You can't illustrate yourself about casinos watching Hollywood movies. That is fiction. Or who has the idea of American casinos from before the 1960s.
What happened in the 60's?
This is the dividing mark. That's when they started organizing gaming commissions in the United States. They act with a rigor worthy of the Gestapo. Any casino employees, from concierge to president has to be licensed by the Gaming Commission, with an investigation of his past 20-year life. Every three years this license is renewed, and the investigation begins again. Lying is a capital sin in Las Vegas. You told a lie; your license is suspended.
Who started this cleaning?
It was a healing process imposed by large corporations. After all, who is a shareholder in Las Vegas casinos today? The California Teacher's Pension Fund, the Bank of Japan, major multinationals. Organized crime has been removed. The gaming commission is a state agency with full autonomy. If you fail the Commission, it is no use leaving for the Supreme Court. Frank Sinatra had 25% of the Sands hotel. His license was revoked just because he came out in a picture with gangster Carlo Gambino in New York. It was this seriousness that opened Las Vegas to big investors. If I want to hire you to work at my casino hotel, I will first have to consult the FBI. If they deny it, I don't even invite you, no matter your talent.
And is this rigor possible in Brazil?
No one wants to be more realistic than the king. A regulation has to be adapted to the Brazilian conjuncture. I was summoned by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, we had the approval of our casino regulation project in the Chamber. The bill went to the Senate, approved 9-4. Now regulation is in the hands of Senate Vice President Senator Edison Lobão. He told me that the project is almost ready for approval, but the time is not right, because we have other priorities. And I am obliged to agree with him. There is a healing process in the Brazilian Congress as it happened in Las Vegas.
How would Brazilian casinos look like?
These would be casino hotels installed in Embratur-registered tourist resorts. There are more than a thousand tourist resorts, including all the coast, climatic and mineral resorts. It would not be just gaming rooms, as we already have bingo, a very honest and serious activity, despite some bad elements. It's just disciplinary, with legal parameters.
Who is lobbying against casinos in Brazil?
Nobody. The Church only opposes it when asked. Although the Vatican Bank has an 8% stake in Austria Casinos. I received proof of this from the Austrian government. And this church business gets into industrial or recreational activity… the church has to take care of souls. Must not mix station.
And who supports the regulation of casinos in Brazil?
The whole tourism industry supports it. The Waiter's Union, the Hotel and Similar Union, the National Confederation of Tourism, the National Confederation of Trade Employees, everyone supports. Who does not support is for some personal problem or for not knowing the reality of casinos. It's that story: I don't like a casino but I have never been to one. I don't like Coke, but I have never tried it.
And the Brazilian government?
One of the great enemies of casinos is Jose Serra. It seems to me that he is very attached to the Assembly of God. As Minister of Health is one of the best that Brazil has ever had. My tributes. But it seems to have been born on a lemon tree. He always looks sour.
But is this his personal position or government official?
It is not official, because when I was invited to give testimony in the Senate I was accompanied by the Minister of Justice at the time, Mr. Iris Rezende, who dedicated me a lot of time. His statement is recorded in the Senate: "As an evangelical man I am not in favor, but as Minister of Justice I have to recognize that this bill, as it is being presented, is a benefit to our country." As minister, he would never give a favorable opinion if he had not consulted the president.
How many presidents have you talked about this project?
From the time of João Figueiredo [president from 1979 to 1985]! His son, Paulinho Figueiredo, invited me to a cocktail party and asked me in front of the president: "When are we going to have the roulette wheels spinning in Brazil?" Then President Figueiredo put his hand on my shoulder and said: “Batelli, you're fucking crazy. I am a military man. Never attended casino. I have nothing against casinos. But I have 419 motherfuckers in Brasilia, and they will want a casino each. So, I am against it, for convenience.” At that time there were 419 deputies, not 513, as today.
What would be the economic impact of opening casinos in Brazil?
Firstly, players would stop going to Las Vegas or Punta del Este. I mean the medium to low players. Great players would not be exposed to journalists and gossip, they would continue to travel outside. Economically, the important thing for Brazil is not the game itself, but the attractions, the shows, the restaurants, the sporting events. It would be an injection in the economy of domestic tourism, mainly seasonal. A show holds the tourist another day or two. They would be more stages for Brazilian artists. More encouragement for dance students of dramatic art. Today this art market is very small. You go to the casino and you don't have to play anything, not even 25 cents. Go to dinner, to enjoy a show. Silvio Santos, for example: he goes to Las Vegas to read and watch shows. Never spent 25 cents on a slot machine. And I have known Silvio Santos for years.
Source: GMB
