The bill that regulates casinos in Brazil proposes the creation of “integrated resorts”. This initiative can generate up to 1 million direct and indirect job vacancies.
The Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino, believes that the Senate will vote on the proposal soon. He highlights the importance of this measure for the tourism sector and the country’s economy.
Sabino says resorts with casinos will bring major investments
“Like any major economic activity that will mobilize large investments, we will generate employment during the implementation phase and during execution. Our perspective is to generate around 600,000 to 1 million direct and indirect jobs, when we have all the integrated resorts operating”, stated Sabino.
The minister’s speech took place during the seminar “Challenges of Betting and Casino Regulation”, organized by Editora Globo with support from the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro. He discussed the project together with senator Irajá (PSD-TO), rapporteur of the text, and sector representatives.
Bill 2,234/2022 authorizes the installation of casinos in high-end resorts and ships. The proposed “integrated resorts” in the project include casinos, hotels, event spaces, restaurants and shopping centers. The initiative seeks to attract more tourists and diversify the entertainment offering in Brazil.
On July 19, the Constitution and Justice Commission (CGJ) approved the bill. Now, the proposal goes to the Senate for analysis. Among the rules, the project determines that the casino must occupy a maximum of 20% of the hotel complex’s built area.
So, in these spaces, visitors will be able to play slot machines, roulette, card games and other authorized games. This regulation seeks to organize and expand the entertainment offering in Brazil.
According to the minister, the idea is that each state with up to ten million inhabitants has at least one large integrated resort. More populous states, such as São Paulo, may have three casino ventures.
The importance of tourism for the economy
The minister took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of tourism as an intersectoral sector that generates jobs in various activities. The regulation of casinos, according to Sabino, will have a positive impact on the Brazilian economy.
He highlighted the international interest in the Brazilian market, citing Hard Rock Café as one of the players in the sector that is injecting billions into the construction of tourist complexes. He stated: “They create a hotel with a theater, convention center, shopping centers, thousands of apartments and casinos.”
Furthermore, he mentioned that, at the inauguration of a project like this, they usually bring the greatest world-renowned artists. He cited the recent shows in Brazil as examples of the potential to attract the public: Taylor Swift, who performed in two states and Madonna in Rio de Janeiro.
Sabino also highlighted the positive prospects in relation to the creation of jobs and tax revenue with the regulation of casinos. According to him, the casino subsidy agreement should generate a collection of Intervention Contributions in the vintage economic domain for the commercialization of games and betting (Cide-Games) of around 22 billion dollars.
These resources will enter the Treasury and will be allocated to public policies. The legislator has already established some priorities, such as a percentage for the promotion of Brazilian tourist destinations abroad through Embratur. Furthermore, part of the revenue will be allocated to sports, public health and the prevention and fight against compulsive gamblers, he explained.
Sabino says Brazil can get it right where others have gone wrong
The minister also warned that the country could create a balanced regulatory environment, avoiding the mistakes of other countries that did not take precautions to combat compulsive gambling.
“Brazil cannot continue to live in such an unfavorable environment, but it also cannot present itself in such a frenetic way. England does, but most countries have not taken this care in terms of preventing and treating compulsive gambling”, he concluded.
