The long wait for Brazil to legalise land-based casinos will go on after a request for an urgent vote on the matter was denied.
On Wednesday, the Senate plenary rejected the request for urgency on the land-based gambling bill by a vote of 36 to 28.
This means PL 2,234/2022 will follow the normal processing schedule, with it not yet clear when exactly the matter will be put to a vote.
PL 2,234/2022 would authorise legalise land-based casinos, bingo, jogo do bicho and betting on horse racing.
The bill was approved by the Justice and Citizenship Committee last year, but progress has stalled with the vote postponed on several occasions.
This is despite Senator Irajá Abreu, the rapporteur of PL 2,234/2022, stating earlier this year that the authorisation of land-based gambling could generate BRL20 billion ($3.6 billion) in tax.
Senator Eduardo Girão, a vehement gambling opponent, warned against the potential dangers of land-based legalisation, saying: “The project will attack not only people who currently gamble abroad, but also the poorest because bingo is involved.”
But Senator Weverton believes the bill should be voted upon in the near future because of the financial benefits it could provide.
Weverton stated: “A physical casino, with rules, will leave taxes in my state, and I’m going to say I’m against it?”
Wait for land-based casinos in Brazil goes on
Political efforts to legalise land-based gambling in Brazil have been enduring since 1991, with PL 442/991 subject to various amendments throughout the years to become its current form.
But full legalisation continues to face delays due to its controversial nature, especially with online gambling, which was regulated on 1 January this year, facing heavy public and political pressure.
Many believed the progress made would see casinos finally legalised this year, especially after a DataSenado survey revealed 60% of the Brazilian adult population supported their authorisation.
But this fresh blow throws yet more doubt into the equation over if and when regulated land-based gambling will be given the green light.
Brazil’s long-running casino legalisation saga faces another setback after senators rejected an urgent vote request this week.