Legislation
Brazil – Proposals would allow for large scale casinos in Brazil
By Phil - 1 December 2015
A new report which would open up the Brazilian gaming market and allow for up to 35 casinos has been put before the Special Committee on National Development.
Put forward by Senator Maggi, the bill legalises casinos, “the animal game” and bingo as part of “Brazil Agenda” a set of new rules put forward by the President of the Senate, Renan Calheiros.
The text would allow for 35 casinos, with at least one per state while some states would be permitted to have as many as three, depending on the population and the economic outlook in each state.
Senator Maggi is responsible for preparing the reports and arranging meetings on the issue of gaming for the Special Committee of National Development, which is analysing the proposals of the Brazil Agenda – a business-friendly agenda which is designed to provide a boost to economic growth. The text submitted by Senator Maggi allows for the construction of casinos across the country. However, it would be up to each state to decide if it would be interested in granting a licence.
According to the text, casinos will only be permitted in hotel leisure complexes with venues for meetings and events, restaurants, bars and shopping centres. Licences will be granted for 30 years and tender proposals for licences will be judged on the total investment for the leisure complex as well as the number of jobs the project would create. Under the proposal, the casino will be allowed to encompass up to 10 per cent of the total built area of the total complex.
The bill also allows for a bingo hall per every 250,000 inhabitants of the municipality where it is located while only one bingo hall would be permitted with cities with less than 250,000 inhabitants. In addition each bingo hall would be allowed to house a maximum of up to 50 electronic bingo machines on site. The Senator pointed out that the issue should generate debate and be analysed with caution. “The project is controversial and has to be discussed carefully,” he said.
Gaming is being discussed simultaneously in the Chamber of Deputies in a special public hearing which has been convened to discuss proposals surrounding the possible legalisation of gambling in the future. The Special Committee of the Regulatory Framework of the Games in Brazil was set up in September. According to a survey carried out by local newspaper O Globo the committee will in all likelihood give its approval for the legalisation of gaming, as 23 out of the 27 of its members are in favour of the project.
