Rio de Janeiro City Hall banned this Friday (22) the granting of licenses to establishments that use lottery betting equipment, such as video lottery terminals (VLTs).
In the capital, the city will not grant licenses to establishments that use betting machines. The ban on the equipment extends to establishments that already have licenses, such as bars and restaurants.
In these cases, the establishment's license may be revoked if it installs any machines deemed to be a misuse of the initial authorization. The rule will not apply to Caixa Econômica Federal lotteries.
"The granting of licenses is prohibited for establishments that own or use lottery betting equipment, such as totems, betting terminals, Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs), and Smart POS," reads an excerpt from the decree, which continues, "The installation of the equipment referred to in Article 1 in already licensed establishments will result in the revocation of the license."
The publication is signed by acting mayor Eduardo Cavaliere, as Paes was traveling in the United States. The text states that the city government has the authority to adopt the measure based on two principles: territorial planning, which allows it to plan and control the use and occupation of urban land, and the power and duty to license and monitor economic activities within its territory, exercising its administrative police power, as provided for in Rio Decree No. 41.827/2016.
Paes called the state government's measure "misguided" and said that the operation of the machines cannot be authorized without broad public debate and clear rules. The city government believes that permitting them without regulations could create problems for public health and safety, in addition to hindering the prevention of gambling addiction. Child and adolescent protection was also a consideration when the city adopted the measure.
"The installation of lottery betting equipment in commercial establishments distorts the original licensed activity, constituting a misuse of its purpose and a substantial change in its social, economic, and urban impact," reads an excerpt from the decree.
In a video posted on social media, Paes said that legalizing the equipment must involve "responsibility and care," considering the social and public health impacts.
"In the city of Rio, we will exercise caution, and we will determine that, for now, commercial establishments will continue to be unable to issue operating permits from City Hall if they have gaming machines. I believe issues like this need to be discussed in depth and seriously before being defined, because the interests of the population must prevail over any other interests," he said.
Source: O Globo
