Bill No. 2,836/24, which aims to establish rules for the installation and operation of lottery machines and equipment in commercial establishments in Minas Gerais, received a favorable opinion regarding its legality from the Committee on Constitution and Justice of the State Legislative Assembly.
The proposal, authored by Deputy Alencar da Silveira Jr., limits the use of such devices exclusively to venues dedicated to the operation of public lotteries authorized by federal, state, or municipal law.
Originally, the text provided for the prohibition of such devices inside bars, restaurants, and similar establishments. The rapporteur, Deputy Maria Clara Marra (PSDB), presented Substitute Bill No. 1, incorporating amendment suggestions proposed by the author himself.
The new text allows licensed lottery establishments in Minas Gerais to install and operate video lottery terminals (VLTs), lottery terminals, kiosks, and similar devices. These are systems that enable instant or predefined prize games, operating through a remotely controlled central system.
The bill also authorizes the use of smart POS devices (Android-based card machines) for the operation and collection of bets in all modalities of public lotteries authorized by federal, state, or municipal law, except for the fixed-odds online betting modality.
Bars, restaurants, snack bars, and similar establishments will be allowed to install and operate electronic betting collection equipment connected to an online real-time system, such as smart POS or similar devices, certified and approved exclusively for the physical collection of bets in regulated lottery modalities.
This betting modality refers to wagers placed in person through the purchase of a printed ticket, either before or during the event being bet on. The bill prohibits the entry and stay of children and adolescents in all such establishments.
The proposal also requires that all machines and equipment use auditable systems, granting unrestricted, continuous, and real-time access to supervisory authorities. The bill gives establishments 60 days to comply with the new requirements and establishes a daily fine of ten thousand Fiscal Units of the State of Minas Gerais (Ufemgs) for violations. Failure to comply may result in the suspension of business operations.
The bill will still be reviewed by the Committees on Consumer and Taxpayer Protection and on Economic Development before being put to a vote in the Plenary.
Source: GMB
