JUE 28 DE MARZO DE 2024 - 14:29hs.
"The game of life"

Strong support for the release of casinos in Nelson Motta's column at Globo

In his usual Fridays weekly column in O Globo newspaper about culture and behavior, renowned Brazilian journalist and writer Nelson Motta makes a strong case for the liberation of casinos that could generate R$ 50 billion (US$8.7b) a year in taxes. 'The moment has never been more opportune. This time it will. Only a complete idiot would try to use an American casino to try to launder money. It is the most foolish of arguments against the liberation of gambling in Brazil,' explains the journalist and composer.

In Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world, casinos are the most inspected in the world, first by themselves, so as not to be robbed by the IRS, behind taxes, or by the FBI tracking money laundering. This is true in all American casinos, even in indigenous territories, where wealthy tribes have enriched themselves.

Only a complete idiot would try to use an American casino to try to launder money. It is the most foolish of arguments against the liberation of gambling in Brazil. As long as the inspection is as strict as the American one.

Religious motives are bizarre in a country where gambling is played, on horses, on addicted slot machines, on scratch cards, in federal, state and municipal lotteries, in clandestine casinos that rob players. Why would safe, tightly inspected casinos that would create thousands of jobs and pay billions in taxes, be more sinful?

Compulsive gamblers, who throw everything in the family and lose, do not need casinos for their fate, but treatment. At least in casinos, their money turns into taxes and jobs. Irresponsible people who bet what they don't have also don't need casinos. They play poker. Future market. Interest. Dollar. Play online at any virtual casino. Bet on any sport in the world.

At a time when the government is desperate for money to pay for its minimum income program, without raising taxes, the bill's liberation project, which could generate R$50 billion (US$8.7b) per year in taxes for the Union, states and municipalities broken by the pandemic. The lobby has already traded "games of chance" for "games of fortune". The moment has never been more opportune. This time it will.

Today, financial markets look like casinos, subject to trillions and billionaire scams, as we have seen in many recent scandals, despite the control mechanisms. In front of them, roulette, baccarat and black jack look like innocent children's games.

One thing is certain: in the end the bank always wins.



Nelson Cândido Motta Filho

Journalist, composer, writer, screenwriter, music producer, theatrologist and Brazilian lyricist. He is the author of more than three hundred songs, with several partners, such as Lulu Santos, Rita Lee, Ed Motta, Cidade Negra, Guilherme Arantes, Dori Caymmi, Erasmo Carlos and the band Jota Quest.

Source: O Globo