Brazil’s land-based bill could be debated in the Senate today
According to the Brazilian Senate News Agency the bill that authorizes the operation of casinos and bingo halls, legalizes the animal game (an illegal street lottery) and allows betting on horse races is one of the five items on the agenda of the Senate session today.
Bill 2234/2022 , which authorizes the operation of casinos and bingo halls in Brazil, has already been approved in the Chamber of Deputies and in the Senate’s Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) in June 2024, as reported by Senator Irajá. He accepted suggested amendments and promised adjustments to the text.
According to Senator Irajá’s text, the installation of casinos in tourist centres or integrated leisure complexes will be authorized, that is, resorts and high-standard hotels with at least 100 rooms, in addition to restaurants, bars and places for meetings and cultural events.
An amendment by Senator Ângelo Coronel determines that casinos must operate in integrated leisure complexes or vessels specifically designed for this purpose. There will be a limit of one casino in each state and in the Federal District, with the exception of São Paulo, which may have up to three casinos, and Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Amazonas and Pará, which may have up to two each, based on the size of their population or territory.
Casinos may also be installed on maritime vessels (up to ten, throughout the country) and on river vessels with at least 50 rooms, within the following limits: one casino on each river between 1,500 and 2,500 kilometres long; two on each river between 2,500 and 3,500 kilometres long; and three on each river over 3,500 kilometres long.
Bingo may be played permanently in specific locations, both in traditional formats and in electronic and video bingo formats. There may be one bingo hall in each municipality, and larger cities may have one establishment for every 150,000 inhabitants.
Municipalities and the Federal District will be authorized to operate bingo games in stadiums with a minimum capacity of 15,000 fans, as long as it is a regular, ongoing activity. Bingo halls will be authorized to operate for 25 years, renewable for the same period. To apply for authorization, they will need to prove a minimum paid-up share capital of R$10 million.
In each state and in the Federal District, one legal entity for every 700,000 inhabitants may be accredited to operate the animal game. In Roraima (the only state with a population below this limit, according to the 2022 Census), the installation of one animal game operator will be permitted. Legal entities may be authorized to operate the animal game for 25 years, renewable for the same period. To apply for authorization, they will need to prove a minimum paid-up share capital of R$10 million.
Betting on horse racing may be operated by horse racing entities accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture. These same entities may also be accredited to operate bingo and video bingo games at the same time, as long as they are held in the same location where horse racing is practiced.
The project also regulates the rental of slot machines and requires that all machines be registered with the government, as well as the performance of periodic audits. Slot machines must be operated at a rate of 40% for the route operators and 60% for the bingo or casino establishment, based on gross revenue, which is the difference between the total bets made and the prizes paid.
