Legislation
Brazil to discuss land-based bill tomorrow
By James - 11 June 2024
Brazil’s land-based expansion bill is scheduled for debate again tomorrow. The bill PL 2234/2022 which authorizes the operation of casinos and bingo halls, and legalizes the “jogo do bicho” (an illegal street lottery) was postponed again in the Senate’s Committee on Constitution and Justice (CCJ) last week.
The president of the CCJ Senator Davi Alcolumbre included the bill on the agenda for Wednesday the 12th. This is the fourth time the bill has been placed on the agenda. Discussion over the bill has been postponed three times so far.
The text, approved in early 2022 by the House of Representatives, has divided opinions in the Senate. This is because the proposal faces resistance from the evangelical caucus and conservative groups.
As multiple members of the committee asked for additional time to review the bill a collective request for review was granted last week. Senator Alcolumbre agreed the request following rules and procedures established by the senate.
According to the text, casinos may be installed in resorts as part of an integrated leisure complex that must contain at least 100 high-end hotel rooms, meeting and event venues, restaurants, bars and shopping centres. In order to determine where casinos can be opened, the Executive Branch must consider the existence of the tourism industry and the economic and social potential of the region. According to the proposal, gaming houses will also be able to operate on sea and river vessels. Each economic group may hold only one licence per state, and licensing will be carried via a public bidding process which be decided on the technical and financial bids put forward by potential operators.
The law also permits municipalities and the Federal District to licence bingo halls. Bingo halls will also be allowed in stadiums with a capacity of over 15,000 spectators. Bingo halls must be located in places with a minimum area of 1,500 square meters, where up to 400 video bingo machines can also be located, but slot machines will be prohibited. Only one bingo hall will be accredited for every 150,000 inhabitants in the municipality where the establishment will operate, in accordance with the regulations. In municipalities with less than 150,000 inhabitants, only one bingo hall will be accredited. Licenses will be granted for 25-years and will be renewable for an equal period. In addition, the bill defines rules for electronic and card bingo.
For the legalization of the street lottery “jogo de bicho” accreditation will be for a period of 25 years, renewable for an equal period if the requirements are met. There may be, at most, one operator of this game for every 700 thousand inhabitants of the state or Federal District. In those with less than 700 thousand inhabitants, there can only be one accredited licence holder for the animal game.
Meanwhile horse racing may be operated by tourism entities accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture, which may also be accredited to operate, at the same time, bingo and video bingo games.
