The announcement of the vote on the urgency request was made at the beginning of the final deliberative session of the year by Senate President Davi Alcolumbre. The bill in question is PL 2,234/2022, previously approved by the Chamber of Deputies and reported in the Senate by Senator Irajá (PSD-TO), who introduced adjustments and accepted amendments proposed during its legislative process.

The bill has been under review in the Senate since 2022. On June 19, 2024, it was approved by the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) and has since been awaiting deliberation in the Plenary. The original proposal dates back to 1991, when it was introduced in the Chamber of Deputies as PL 442/1991 by then-deputy Renato Vianna.

Lawmakers opposed to the bill, especially members of the evangelical caucus, argued that the legalization of gambling could encourage ludopathy (gambling addiction) and facilitate crimes such as money laundering, trafficking, and prostitution.

During the debate, Senator Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE) stated that the bill is controversial and may have negative impacts, particularly on lower-income populations. According to him, the proposal would divert resources from productive activities to large economic groups and increase players’ indebtedness.

On the other hand, Senator Weverton (PDT-MA) defended moving forward with the vote, highlighting the economic potential of physical casinos in tourist regions. According to the lawmaker, regulation could generate tax revenue, jobs, and investments, provided it is accompanied by strict control and access rules.

With the urgency request rejected, the bill will continue its legislative process in the Senate with no defined date for a Plenary vote.