The strategy includes “publicly exposing” the parliamentarians who vote in favor of legalizing gambling, such as casinos, bingo, jogo do bicho and betting on horse races.
According to a report by the Metrópoles portal, pressure on the Senate is expected to increase in the coming days, with the explicit threat of revealing the names of those in favor of the project.
The offensive is being organized by the Alliance Group, formed by influential pastors such as Silas Malafaia and Samuel Câmara. The group published a “Letter of Repudiation of the Approval of Gambling”, which is already circulating among senators and religious leaders, and intends to block the proposal from moving forward, which is expected to be voted on before the July parliamentary recess.
In the letter, the religious leaders list arguments against legalization, such as the risk of family debt, increased crime, negative impacts on mental health, as well as the possibility of money laundering and misappropriation of public funds. They also point out that the Federal Police, the PGR and Sindifisco have issued opinions against the measure.
The text is signed by leaders such as Silas Malafaia, Estevam Hernandes, Robson Rodovalho and César Augusto, among other important names in the evangelical community.
The manifesto also warns of the “devastating effects” of legalizing gambling, especially on the poorest segments of the population, and promises to demand coherence from evangelical senators or those linked to the Christian caucus.
The mobilization reinforces the historic resistance of some churches to the legalization of gambling in Brazil. The strategy of public exposure aims to weaken parliamentary support and generate political wear and tear among the voters of these senators.
The expectation is that the bill will advance this semester, if there is not enough articulation to block it in the plenary.
Lula is in favor of the bill
The bill that legalizes gambling faces ideological resistance from senators linked to conservative agendas. The proposal authorizes the installation of casinos in tourist centers and integrated leisure complexes, in addition to repealing the law that has criminalized the jogo do bicho since 1946.
The bill has the support of the government, which sees the measure as a potential source of revenue. In June of last year, President Lula declared that he would sanction the proposal if it was approved by Congress.
“I always thought that the jogo do bicho was the one that distributed the most money. People wake up in the morning and go and bet. This is considered a misdemeanor, prohibited. But what about the gambling that happens on television today? In sports? Children with cell phones in their hands placing bets all day long? Who can stop that?,” said the president at the time.
Source: Metropoles
