Operator News

Brazil – Brazilian President wants casino ban to last 20 more years

By Phil - 31 March 2020

Talking on local television President Jair Bolsonaro has said that he is against the development of casinos in Brazil.

During the interview he said that he was against casinos over fears that they would lead to an increase in money laundering. Bolsonaro was talking on Programa do Ratinho, broadcast on SBT, the second-most watched television network in Brazil where he also argued (wrongly) that it was up to the President if gaming laws should be changed. It is one of the few occasions he has addressed the issue directly in public.

“I think that this proposal cannot be discussed in Brazil, because money will be laundered here.Casinos in my government, this issue is not discussed. In fact, it is my sole responsibility to deal with this matter; it is covered by the Constitution. Twenty, 30, 40 years from now is another story,” he said adding that he would “be satisfied” to see casinos remain banned for at least another 20 years.

Legalising gaming is actually up to the National Congress through a bill. The president must sanction the bill, can veto it in part or in full but Congress may overturn the presidential veto according to Brazilian gaming specialist website BNL Data.

In August Bolsonaro (although he was not directly quoted on the issue) was believed to have come out in favour of legalising gambling in casinos after expressing his opinions during a meeting with Deputy Newton Cardoso Jr, president of the Tourism Commission of the Chamber of Deputies. According to local press Bolsonaro said that he was in favour of the legalization of casinos in Brazil, and said that it should be down to each state to set up its own gambling laws.

The far-right President and ex-soldier took office on January 1 2019. While there have been a number of reports which argued that he may well have allowed for pro gaming laws Bolsonaro has though remained largely silent on the issue both in the lead up to his election victory and afterwards as well. Speculation had, however, been growing that Bolsonaro’s intention was to identify the areas where it would be possible to generate more jobs and generate the highest taxes, but he has not wanted to antagonise his evangelical support base.

However, he strongly denied supporting any pro gaming Laws in a live Facebook feed during his election campaign when he said that that an expansion of gambling in the country would lead to money laundering and would harm families.

Caption: President Bolsonaro, left, on Programa do Ratinho