The future of legalized casinos in Brazil remains uncertain, with the bill still awaiting its turn on the plenary agenda
Brazil’s long-running debate over legalizing casinos and bingo halls hit another pause this week after the Senate rejected a request to fast-track the proposal.
Lawmakers voted 36 to 28 against granting urgency to Bill 2.234/2022, a move that would have brought the measure straight to the Senate floor for a final decision. Without urgency status, the bill remains in legislative limbo, despite years of discussion.
The proposal has been under Senate review since 2022 and cleared a major hurdle in June 2024, when it was approved by the Constitution and Justice Committee. That vote sent the bill to the full Senate, where it has been waiting for a broader debate ever since.
Opponents argued strongly against accelerating the process. Senator Eduardo Girão warned that expanding legal gambling could deepen financial problems for vulnerable communities. He said casino-style gaming risks pushing people into debt while shifting money away from productive sectors of the economy.
Girão also criticized the origins of the proposal, claiming it reflects outside interests and would not only affect Brazilians who already gamble abroad, but also draw in lower-income players through bingo operations.
Supporters of the bill pushed back during the debate. Senator Weverton defended the idea of regulated, physical casinos, arguing that Brazil is missing out on tourism revenue and tax income that could benefit local economies.
He pointed to states with strong tourism potential, saying land-based casinos with clear rules could keep gambling activity under government oversight rather than driving it underground or offshore. Weverton also suggested lawmakers should focus more attention on regulating online gambling, which he views as less controlled.
