The project to allow casinos, bingos and gambling in Brazil awaits Senate approval

The government and Congress see the project as an opportunity to raise 22 billion reais a year in taxes. The bill has already been passed in the Chamber of Deputies, and Lula's government is striving to keep it as it is. This is also the idea of the rapporteur, Senator Irajá (PSD-TO).

The Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino (Union), reaffirmed that the government defends the proposal and will avoid changes to the text approved by the Chamber of Deputies. The minister understood that the project could attract tourists to Brazil, while restricting the expansion of casinos and businesses of this type.

"It is a text that restricts the number of resorts integrated with casinos in federal units. The perspective, from the conversations we have had, is that this bill will be approved in the first half of 2025," said Celso Sabino.With the backing of Lula and Alcolumbre, the Senate wants to vote on the expansion of casinos.

A project to allow casinos, bingos and gambling will increase government revenues and has already been approved in the House, but is stalled in the Senate.

The Senate is set to vote this autumn on a project to regulate gambling and open casinos in Brazil. According to interlocutors, there is an agreement with the Speaker of the House, Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), with the promise of sanction by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

34 casino resorts

If the project is approved and passed as it stands, 34 integrated casino resorts will be able to operate in Brazil. Licences would be granted on a concession fee basis. Boat casinos, on the other hand, would be limited to 10 throughout the country.
The proposal before the Senate also allows other types of gambling establishments. Bingos and videobingos could operate in jockey clubs, with one licence per municipality for every 150,000 inhabitants. Gambling will also be legalised, with one licence per 700,000 inhabitants in the state.

The project also prohibits gambling companies from granting loans, and also requires payment by debit or pixel, to avoid money laundering or credit card debt. A new 17% tax on gross income would be levied.

The proposal also foresees how the tax would be divided among federal entities, in order to reduce resistance from parliamentarians. Despite this, the rapporteur, Irajá, shared with his allies that the Senate's evangelical caucus remains adamant and will vote against the text.

The senator's allies estimate that the project has the 41 votes necessary for its approval, but they only want to include it on the agenda when they have consolidated 50 supporters for the text. They want to have a safety margin against any last-minute changes.