The government’s economic team presented as one of the elements that make up the new fiscal framework the legalization of the betting sector in Brazil, including sports betting and gambling. The information was very well received by economists, analysts, the press and the supporter of this activity, federal deputy João Carlos Bacelar (PV/BA).
The parliamentarian once again mentioned bill 442/91, approved in the Chamber and currently being discussed in the Senate (2234/22). The proposal allows the State to control, collect and regulate this practice in the national territory.
“Gradually, Brazil is discovering that every prohibition is almost always useless, because nothing solves it. There will always be opposing positions in relation to the games, but the worst situation is clandestinity, which feeds parallel crimes and the impossibility of clear rules,” he said.
Bacelar headed the Parliamentary Front that created the Regulatory Framework for Games in Brazil and the Working Group in the Chamber. In addition, he was responsible for articulating the approval of PL 442/91.
“As a first step, the regulation of sports betting is a good indicator, but this modality alone does not meet the economic needs of the government. Without online games (casino, bingo, slot machines and aviator) fixed odds bets represent a third of the expected tax generation”, highlighted Bacelar.
For Bacelar, the project needs to be changed so as not to limit the potential of the betting sector in Brazil
The potential of a country’s gambling industry corresponds to 1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), depending on the characteristics of the population and the gambling culture. Based on last year’s GDP, Brazil has a potential of BRL 99 billion with bets that, taxed, could generate around BRL 25 billion a year. In addition to grants, investments and job creation.
According to Bacelar, the project that is in the Senate needs to be modified so as not to limit the betting sector in Brazil. This is because the text limits the operation of casinos in resorts and the licenses of the jogo do bicho and does not cover slot machines.
“If they are not included in the legalization project, they will not cease to exist because there is a demand and, with criminalization, they will migrate from misdemeanors to truly criminal structures such as prison factions”.
“We have an obligation to recognize gambling as an economic activity and that there is a ‘social fact’ that must be faced. Anyone who wants to gamble, and cannot do so according to the law, will look for it in the parallel market. an entrepreneur, like Al Capone, to give society what society wants”, concluded Bacelar.
