Lula set to sanction casino bill says Brazil’s Tourism Minister
The Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino has once again come out in favour of legalising casinos in Brazil. Talking with Mercado and Eventos, a Brazilian publication focused on the Brazilian tourism industry, the minister said that the expectation is that the bill will be signed in the first half of this year.
“The bill that regulates casinos has already been approved in the Chamber and is now in the Senate. Our expectation is that it will be approved and sanctioned by the president by the first semester of 2025,” he said.
Sabino highlighted the potential benefits of the initiative, saying, “If regulated responsibly and sustainably, this activity could generate jobs, increase revenue, and promote economic development in Brazil,” and emphasised how it aligns with practices in other countries worldwide.
Celso Sabino has consistently backed the bill. In September last year talking at a meeting of the Ministers of Tourism of the G20 economies in Belem, he emphasized that the wider land-based gambling expansion bill would enhance tourism should it be approved. The bill would in particular be an opportunity to stimulate the development of smaller tourist hubs he said.
However, the bill is controversial and has been on the table for years. In November the Senate postponed the vote on the bill. The bill authorizes not only the operation of casinos and bingos in Brazil, but would also legalize the jogo do bicho (an illegal lottery), among other forms of gambling. The proposal was withdrawn at the request of the rapporteur, Senator Irajá following extensive debate among senators. According to the Senate President, Rodrigo Pacheco, this decision meant that the proposal would be voted on in 2025.
