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Brazil – Brazil’s President of Chamber of Deputies supports pro gaming legislation
By Phil - 19 July 2016
The newly appointed President of the Chamber of Deputies in Brazil has come out in support of new gaming legislation which would allow for large casinos as part of entertainment complexes and resorts.
Speaking at the state meeting of his party, the right leaning Democrats Party (Democratas, DEM) Rodrigo Maia said: “I am in favour of gaming as being part of the chain of entertainment, in favour of casinos and resorts as investment in the network of events and also gaming. This path will bring billions and billions to Brazil. Today, Brazil has eight thousand illegal machines and nobody does anything about it. Either you make progress towards something serious, or you end up with what you have already – money laundering every day,” he said.
Maia was elected as President of the House last week in the second round ballot with 285 votes versus 170. He will play a key role in the new policies of the government namely cutting public spending and opening up the economy.
Earlier this month Maia told press that legislation which would allow for casinos in resorts could be approved by the end of this year. He also said that he was in favour of creating a new body which would oversee the online gaming industry in order to prevent money laundering and tax evasion.
With a number of projects in both houses now underway Maia’s comments are another clear sign that momentum is gathering with both the head of the Senate and the head of the Chamber of Deputies now publicly expressing their support for liberalising Brazil’s antiquated gaming laws. Ministers for Brazil’s interim president, Michel Temer, are continuing with plans to legalise gambling in order to increase revenue for the state and gambling has been earmarked amongst three other major policy changes as an urgent priority by the President of the Senate, Senator Renan Calheiros. Calheiros announced last month that the Senate would vote on a number of controversial projects that have had met with no agreement and have been stalled for years.
