Despite the rapporteur Senator Irajá highlighting benefits such as over R$100 billion (US$ 18.35bn) in investments, generating more than 1.5 million jobs and raising taxes in the order of R$25 billion (US$4.6bn), the matter was removed from the agenda due to lack of support for approval.
Senate President Davi Alcolumbre removed it, citing low quorum with just over 50 senators present. He explained that after consulting colleagues on official trips, they all agreed to postpone the vote so they could participate in the debates and decision.
Since casinos were banned in Brazil in 1946, multiple attempts to revive this high-impact economic activity—key for tourism and job creation—have been thwarted by morality-based arguments. The very bill debated on Tuesday (8) has been circulating in Congress since 1991.
Davi Alcolumbre acknowledged that the bill has been under discussion for over 30 years and agreed that it is more than time for it to be voted on. However, he asked for his colleagues' understanding in removing the proposal from the agenda.
He stated that the decision was made due to the low attendance in the Senate chamber, the divided opinions among senators, and requests from party leaders to postpone the vote: "There is clearly a division in the Senate on this issue. Given the presence of only 56 senators, the strong disagreement surrounding the matter, and the requests from senators who would like to be present for the vote, the presidency will, of its own accord, withdraw this item," said the Senate president at the opening of the plenary session.
The bill seeks to end a ban that has been in place for nearly 80 years. A 1946 law prohibited all gambling activities throughout Brazil. The proposal would also repeal parts of the Criminal Misdemeanors Law, which currently imposes penalties for such practices.
The bill would legalize the following forms of gambling:
-Casino games
-Bingo
-Video bingo
-Jogo do bicho (an illegal numbers game popular in Brazil)
-Betting on horse racing (turf betting)
Senator Eduardo Girão (Novo–CE) welcomed the removal of the bill from the agenda and called for it to be sent to three Senate committees: “I would like the bill to be referred to three committees, and when it comes to the floor, that a roll-call vote be held. The public is deeply concerned.”
Source: GMB
