Marcelo Munhoz da Rocha (Advisor)
Brazil is one of the biggest gambling markets yet to be legally explored and discovered. With this in mind, the Brazilian politicians are aiming to approve gambling to solve two of Brazil’s biggest problems: the need to make tax money and the necessity of lowering unemployment.
Bills PLS 186/2014 and PL 442/1991 are currently being discussed at the Brazilian Congress, for the legalization of Casinos, Bingo Halls, Online gaming, Jogo do Bicho among others. Sports betting, however, despite it is present on both bills, may be legalized by other means. There was a possibility that President Michel Temer could sign a provisional measure for the legalization of Sports betting.
However, this has lost force during the past weeks mainly because the possibility of the presentation of a new Bill project for the legalization of Sports Betting solely has also gained force. According to Alexandre Manoel da Silva - Undersecretary of the Secretariat of Economic Monitoring (SEAE) of the Ministry of Finance - the Ministry of Finance has already sent a Bill for Sports Betting to the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic.
Now, that the President has the project for this new Bill for Sports betting, it is up to him to review it and propose it to the Chamber of Representatives. Also according to the Undersecretary the model for the operation of Sports betting is likely to be done like LOTEX - Instant Lotteries.
A Caixa Econômica Federal (Public Bank) subsidiary is created and 51% of its social capital is sold to a private operator, which will be responsible for the activity with the government. In conclusion, it is possible to affirm that 2017 and 2018 will be great years for those who are interested in the many possibilities that the Brazilian market will be able to offer like Casinos, Bingo Halls, etc. The legalization of Sports Betting can happen before the other gambling types by a new Bill.
Marcelo Munhoz da Rocha is a legal advisor and a gambling specialist at BetConsult, a Company specialized on Gambling and Gaming, with services and activities focused on the Brazilian market. He is also manager of the Criminal Law department at the LenziAdvocacia Law Firm, a full service law firm that offers complementary legal services to Gambling clients.
