There has been a key delay in Brazil over an upcoming vote on the federal bill to modernise Brazil’s land-based gambling laws for casino, horseracing, bingo and the sale of jogo do bicho (Instant win games).
The Senate had commenced its review of the bill in September, after it was backed by Senator Irajá Abreu, it also gained support which emphasised the importance of the Senate to expedite its review to align with the launch of Brazil’s upcoming Bets Market, the federal framework for online gambling regulation.
However, the latest developments have seen it postponed by the Senate until 2025. After an ordinary session, Senator Eduardo Girão cited the need for the temporary move as there is still work to be done around finalising the framework.
The demand was rejected, as Senators noted the bill’s policies were drafted over a decade ago by its former sponsor, Renato Vianna (MDB-SC). Vianna had called on the government to uphold the 1946 Decree Law enacted by President Gaspar Dutra, which prohibited casinos from operating in Brazil’s municipalities and districts.
A proposal by Senator Flávio Arns to postpone the vote and amend its “urgent” status in the legislative agenda was signed by 33 Senators. There is also an official request put in towards the Ministry of Health to evaluate the bill’s budgetary impact and its level of interference with the United Health System (SUS) and the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS).
Rodrigo Pacheco, President of the Senate, commented: “In case of rejection of the request for urgency and compliance with the request for information, suggested by Senator Flávio Arns, there would inevitably be no possibility of approval this year and it would correspond to the next Board of Directors, to the next Leaders, the decision on the procedure. There would be no such fear of the risk of submission in the coming weeks.”
The casino bill was then removed from the daily agenda by the bill’s rapporteur, Irajá Abreu.“We are living a very turbulent moment with the regulation of betting,” added Senator Alessandro Vieira, as quoted by SBC Noticias.
