Brazil senator rails against land-based casinos bill over criminal links
Senator Eduardo Girão has criticised the bill to legalise land-based casinos in Brazil, over fears it could lead to increased criminal activity in Brazil.
Girão has long been an opponent of gambling legislation in Brazil, and with the licensed online market having already launched this year, it is now rumoured the vote to legalise land-based casinos could be carried out before the Senate’s July recess.
Earlier this week, Brazilian newspaper Metrópoles reported Senate President Davi Alcolumbre has said he plans to schedule the vote on PL 2,234/2022 before the July recess.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is not expected to push back against the land-based bill, and he will need to give the final green light should the senate vote in favour of a regulated land-based sector.
Girão, however, has been critical of the lack of opposition for this bill. He believes recent media coverage on rising betting-related money laundering is evidence land-based legalisation shouldn’t go ahead.
“You can read the headlines of O Globo, Estadão and Folha recently, showing that organised crime has never laundered so much money, never made so much profit from the advent of gambling,” Girão said. “And what is the problem in Brazil today? Basically, it is public safety.
“The Lula government, which claims to protect the less fortunate and the poorest, can fix this mistake of betting by absolutely not allowing any more gambling to take place.”
Girão opposes view land-based legalisation will create jobs
One of the key benefits cited by supporters of legal land-based gambling in Brazil is a boost to the economy, particularly in the creation of jobs.
Girão disagrees with this point, however, instead stating bricks-and-mortar legalisation won’t move the needle in terms of job creation and that instead, more families will be harmed by gambling addictions and debt.
“Brazil already has too many problems,” Girão continued. “We absolutely cannot bring in another one that does not generate jobs, because this farce has already been dismantled. It does not generate jobs.
“PL 2,234/2022 must be rejected, on behalf of the Brazilian people, especially the most vulnerable. This tragedy should not even be put to a vote. It is inhumane, it is insensitive.”
Brazil population supportive of land-based legalisation
In his speech, Girão claimed key bodies such as the Federal Police and Financial Activities Control Council share his views against PL 2,234/2022.
Notably, earlier this year Evangelical Parliamentary Front President Gilberto Nascimento said his party will not support casino legalisation.
However, April findings from a DataSenado survey indicate there is significant public support for a land-based sector.
The findings revealed 60% of the Brazilian adult population were in favour of legalising land-based betting, with 58% agreeing it would boost tax collection, while 44% said it would generate jobs.