The regularization of games has been discussed for almost three decades in Congress, considering PL 442/1991, one of the oldest proposals being processed in the Chamber of Deputies and that initially intended to legalize the “game of the bug”.

During that time, there was never a consensus on the advantages and disadvantages of legalization.
The main argument of the parliamentarians in favor is the collection that will be generated with the payment of taxes on legal gambling, which would reinforce the public coffers at a time of scarcity of resources and could be directed to Bolsa Família, or to implement the Income proposal Citizen. In addition, thousands of direct and indirect jobs would be created in the states and municipalities that would receive projects similar to the casinos in Las Vegas (United States) or Punta del Este (Uruguay).

Senator Angelo Coronel (PSD-BA) is one of the representatives in favor of the legalization. “The generation of resources from the taxation of games could expand the reach of Bolsa Família from 14 million families to 22 million, still increasing the average amount received from R $ 200 to R $ 300. This is equivalent to more or less R $ 50 billion in resources to finance the increase in the program. I believe that the funds raised should be used in the social area, in a basic income program, but that depends on the government's budget management. For Brazil, what matters is having the financial capacity to finance this program,” he said.

Powerful lobby
Opponents, on the other hand, warn that releasing the game can exacerbate health problems, with the high cost of treating heavy players, as well as increasing sexual exploitation and prostitution and worsening public safety. They also believe that the activity would undermine anti-corruption actions, since, in their valuation, games can become tools for money laundering, tax evasion and income evasion.

“The liberation of the game in Brazil is a great deception. Those who know the subject know that what is behind this is a powerful lobby of political interests, since a hedge against corruption in the country is approaching, as well as electoral gains for those who do not want to follow Brazilian legislation ", warned the senator Eduardo Girão (Pode-CE).

The senator also said he was concerned about the social and family issue related to gambling. He cited studies from foreign universities that for every dollar collected from the gambling tax, three dollars are spent on social costs related to mental illness due to gambling addiction and public safety.

One of the biggest critics of legalization in this legislature was his idea of ​​holding a cycle of public hearings to discuss the installation of casinos in resorts across the country, postponed due to the pandemic. In the senator's opinion, the debates are a way of drawing society's attention to the danger of liberation.

Angelo Coronel doesn't believe in this scenario.
“This is an impression from those who think that gambling will be legalized and not highly regulated, a mistake. With strong regulation by the competent bodies, with restrictions on who can provide the activity and with control of money, the risk of illegal activities is equal to or less than in other economic activities without such controls. The authorization to explore games will be made by the federal government, with limitations on who can exploit these activities, such as fiscal regularity, suitability and absence of convictions for money laundering, criminal organization and crimes against the financial system, "he defended.

Resorts
Only in the Federal Senate there are four proposals on the subject. The most advanced in the Chamber, ready for the Plenary's agenda, is Senate Bill (PLS) 186/2014, by Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), which authorizes the exploitation of “games of fortune”, in online or in person, throughout the national territory, including casinos in leisure complexes.

The text, which was unarchived in 2019 and underwent changes in commissions, foresees regulations for “jogo do bicho”, videobingo and video games, bingo halls, casinos in integrated leisure complexes, online casinos and sports and non-sports betting. The accreditation for the exploration of the game of bingo and videobingo will be valid for 20 years, renewable for the same period, and will be the responsibility of the states. The casinos, on the other hand, will be valid for 30 years and may be renewed for successive periods.

Recreation
Along the same lines is PL 2,648 / 2019, issued by Senator Roberto Rocha (PSDB-MA), which authorizes the opening and operation of casinos in resorts or integrated leisure complexes. According to the text, casinos will be able to operate in high-end hotels, which offer services such as spas, sports or leisure areas, nightclubs, museums, art galleries, theme or water parks, spaces for large meetings and social, cultural or artistic events. , restaurants, bars and shopping centers.

In order to receive the operating authorization (granted by the Federal Executive Power), according to the project, priority will be given to the areas that present the worst socioeconomic indicators of the cities or regions, such as GDP, per capita income, the Development Index Human (HDI), the Gini coefficient (which measures income inequality) or the unemployment rate.

The rapporteur of the Regional Development and Tourism Commission (CDR), Angelo Coronel, promised to present his analysis soon, but announced in an interview with Rádio Senado at the end of October that he defends the liberation of all types of gambling, not just gambling. casino.
“In my report to PL 2,648 / 2019, I propose the legalization of all games, allowing more than 600 thousand formal jobs between casinos,“ jogo do bicho ”, bingo games, slots, etc .; collection of more than R $ 50 billion, source of resources to benefit more than 22 million families with a monthly benefit of R $ 300; strong operational and financial supervision of the operators of these games; and the promotion of responsible gambling public policies, avoiding gambling by people with gambling [compulsive gambling] ", he explained.

Also, to release gambling in resorts, there is the PL 4,495 / 2020 of Senator Irajá (PSD-TO), which allows the implementation of resorts with casinos to help expand tourism, especially business, in the country.

Like Roberto Rocha's project, the idea is to promote tourism with the construction of a new tourism infrastructure, expand and improve international visits to Brazil and participation in the market for international fairs and events.

Ecotourism
Also thinking about tourism, but with an ecological bias, PLS 595/2015, by former Senator Donizetti Nogueira, intends to use the launch of the games to promote ecotourism and environmental protection in nature conservation units in Brazil, to through shared management with casino hotels authorized to operate bets. According to the project, this authorization will be granted to the company that invests in sustainable development, environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and incentives for ecotourism.

The project also creates the Contribution for Intervention in the Economic Domain in the operation of casino hotels (Cide Verde), with a rate of 18% on the difference between the gross bet and the premiums paid at the end of the year. The rapporteur for the text in the Economic Affairs Commission (CAE) is Senator Fernando Bezerra Coelho (MDB-PE), who proposed combining this proposal with that of Ciro Nogueira.