With Supplementary Bill 186/2014, a subject that has always caused controversy has returned: the operation of casinos in Brazil. This story began in 1946, when President Eurico Gaspar Dutra signed Decree Law 9.215, which restored article 50 of the Criminal Offenses Act of 1941, prohibiting casinos from operating in the country.
With the decree of 1946, was also null the Law of Waters, of 1920, which allowed gambling in hydromineral and climatic resorts. Seventy-one casinos were closed in Brazil and more than 53,000 people became unemployed with the annulment of the law.
In 1993, in order to finance sports entities, commercial bingos were introduced in Brazil through the Zico Law, which in 1998 was improved by the Pelé Law, but a new law, 9,981, in 2000, again banned bingos and allowed authorized companies to operate until the end of their licenses.
The then President Lula, by provisional measure, in 2004 revoked the license of the 1,100 bingo halls that were still operating in Brazil. On the other hand, if casinos and bingo are banned, government-controlled gambling, such as the federal lottery, Mega-Sena and others, raises millions of dollars for the public coffers, making the business an excellent monopoly of the Brazilian state.
Professor Bruno Auricchio Ledo of USP's Ribeirão Preto School of Economics, Administration and Accounting (FEA-RP) believes that the risk of financial fraud may exist, but a regulatory and oversight system can minimize these problems. The professor says that Brazil has structural conditions to have casinos again and that they will bring benefits, such as attracting tourists and foreign currency to the country.
“The precautions to prevent casino fraud are the same as those used in lotteries, money exchange offices and financial institutions in general, which is basically keeping track of all financial transactions. In the case of casinos, it is important to keep the winners noted above a certain amount. This will prevent the same winner from winning many, many different appearances in the same casino, which would be unlikely, indicating fraud, such as money laundering,” suggests Bruno.
According to him, "after the government began to regulate in Las Vegas, the space for financial fraud was reduced and casinos were being bought by entrepreneurs."
In addition, the teacher considers himself an advocate of individual freedom. "The person is an adult, has earned money from his work, and it is he who decides what to do with that money and not the government," he argues.
Source: GMB/ Jornal da USP
