Brazil: Senate CCJ Vote: Legalizing Casinos Could Raise USD 8 billion

According to the rapporteur, Senator Irajá (PSD-TO), the project has the potential to raise up to USD 8 billion. The issue was first tabled in the CCJ in May this year, but the vote was postponed by the Commission's president, Senator Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), after pressure from the opposition.

The rapporteur is betting on the proposal's approval despite resistance from the evangelical caucus, which is organising the text's rejection.

"This issue of gambling is not unanimous, not by a long shot. We know that and we don't even expect it to have an elastic score. But in conversations with the parties, with colleagues, I believe we will have a majority vote," said Senator Irajá.

Earlier this month, the senator told Gazeta do Povo that he is "very worried" about the Senate's rush to approve the legalisation of gambling in Brazil. According to the senator, there is a "powerful lobby" that is trying to take advantage of the tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul to take the focus off the Senate.

Girão also said that the "tycoons" will "benefit and profit from people's addiction". The senator also recalled that there were corruption scandals during the period when bingos were allowed. At the time, then-president Lula signed a decree banning gambling due to the resulting social and economic problems.

This project is simply devastating and will even favour tycoons from abroad. It's the socialisation of loss to benefit the profit of a few. Brazil is going to pay the bill. It's the Brazilians who are going to pay this bill," said the senator.

By Diógenes Freire Feitosa