Since 2014, a controversial issue has appeared in the Federal Senate, in Brasília. Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP ”PI) presented a bill that provides for authorization for the release of gambling in Brazil, which would benefit the return of casinos. Anyone who is against the text, says that this regulation could increase addictions and facilitate corruption; the favorable ones point to an increase in revenue, job creation and attraction of tourists.
And this debate intensifies again. According to the last update of the Senate website, the text is since December 10 ready for deliberation in the plenary and awaits inclusion in the parliament's agenda. That is, at any time, senators can vote and decide on the issue. Nogueira's initial text provides for the authorization of the exploitation of games of chance throughout the national territory, "in recognition of its historical cultural value and its social purpose for the country." The bill also regulates online gambling.
The States and the Federal District would be responsible for regulating and controlling the activity. Authorization would be granted to legal entities that demonstrate technical capacity, fiscal regularity and financial standing. Illegal exploitation could be punished with detention from three months to one year, plus a fine. Children under 18 would also not be allowed.
Discussions
The Senate website made available a poll allowing internet users to give their opinion on Ciro Nogueira's project. Until the last update, on Friday (28), 80.65% of the 4,415 people who voted were in favor of the project. Sectors of the economy point to the benefits of legalization.
This is the case of the businessman, municipal secretary of economic development and president of the Retail Trade Union of Petrópolis (Sicomércio), Marcelo Fiorini. Each casino could generate about 2,000 direct jobs, according to him. “Each casino generates around 2,000 direct jobs, apart from the production chain that revolves around it. That is, indirect jobs. I believe that a casino moves around 5,000 people,” he explained.
Fiorini also points out benefits generated to the municipality with the possible release. The secretary says he is largely in favor of the project and that he looks forward to the release of the casinos in Brazil. “It is generating taxes for the municipality, improving infrastructure, increasing the flow of tourists and visitors, growing investments in the city in hotels and restaurants. Anyway, a huge positive impact! We are broadly supportive and look forward to gambling release in Brazil,” he said.
Federal deputy Hugo Leal said that in the Chamber there is also a bill for legalization, in which he voted in favor, but, he makes reservations. “There is also a Bill in the Chamber discussing the same topic, I have already positioned myself in favor, but for resorts casinos, that is, in tourist areas, for the construction or expansion of hotels that could house not only casinos, but an entire infrastructure with conventions centers for meetings. In the logic of what is happening elsewhere in the world. I am totally opposed to the release of casinos in a wide and unrestricted way, because this way we will not have the opportunity for large investments.”
In the case of Petrópolis, the city would have to present itself as an alternative for this investment, it already has all the qualities to present itself in this scenario of casinos resorts. But I do not believe that Quitandinha could be this alternative, not least because today the rooms have already been transformed into apartments and sold individually, which makes the issue of occupation and the offer of vacancies for tourism difficult.”
The Mayor of Petropolis, Hingo Hammes, believes that the return of the casino represents a potential for generating employment and income for the city: “The legalization of gambling in Brazil has been discussed for some years and is based on the enormous potential for generation employment and income. Petrópolis, due to its history, is at the center of this discussion and there is no denying the economic benefits that the measure would bring not only to the municipality, but to the State, as a whole. It is estimated that the State of Rio has stopped collecting more than R$ 400 billion in taxes alone, since gambling was banned in Brazil.”
“Today, although prohibited, it resists, but in a clandestine way, which aggravates the problem, since it becomes, in fact, an uncontrolled market, which does not generate legal resources. It is important to remember that several other countries keep gaming legally, promoting tourism and generating formal jobs. In addition to this direct impact, legalization would allow greater control and inspection of the outstanding resource,” considers the councilman.
The Hotel Quitandinha
In Petrópolis, the Hotel Quitandinha was designed for the operation of a casino. The gaming space was partially opened in February 1944. In 1946, the then President of the Republic, Eurico Gaspar Dutra, issued a decree banning games of chance, causing the end of the activity. The space had bets of the type roulette, baccarat and others.
Today, the building is managed by the Social Service of Commerce (SESC-RJ) and maintains a permanent exhibition on the times of gambling, the “Memória Quitandinha”. The curator of this exhibition, Flavio Menna Barreto, says that the space was always full, as it maintained a varied program.
“The ‘hotel casino’ was full, as it had a varied program with national and foreign attractions, in addition to numerous leisure and entertainment options. Before the partial inauguration, Quitandinha already attracted many visitors, stimulated by constant advertising campaigns about the grandeur of the building itself and the attractions that the hotel would gather from the beginning of operation,” he said.
In the construction of the Hotel, about 1,500 people were employed, according to the curator. For the opening, just over 600 employees. Barreto explains that the casino was the “main financial engine” of the enterprise. The advertising campaigns sold the gambling site as a brand for Brazil.
All this fame attracted distinguished visitors from various sectors of society. According to the journalist, film director John Ford visited the building under construction in 1943. The extensive list of visitors also points to the presence of the French architect Agache, the entire fixed cast of Cassino da Urca and the musicians Herivelto Martins and Dalva de Oliveira.
“After banning the activity, even with the loss of movement and identity in relation to its original function, several other personalities were there, such as Cesar Romero, Arleen Wheelan, Truman, Eva Perón and Rita Hayworth. The world went through Quitandinha,” added Flávio.
Source: GMB / Wellington Daniel - Diario de Petropolis
