The latest shift pushes the discussion back another week
Senators in Brazil are facing another delay in their efforts to legalize bingos and casinos.
After lengthy discussions, Senator Davi Alcolumbre, president of the commission, announced that the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) will meet on June 19 to further debate Bill (PL) 2,234/2022, with no other items on the agenda.
The project’s rapporteur, Senator Irajá, called for a supplementary vote at the June 12 meeting and eventually accepted five amendments to the bill’s language. Many senators requested additional time to study the changes, with one lawmaker calling for an immediate vote. Faced with this standoff, Alcolumbre chose to postpone talks until next week, promising no more delays until a vote is taken.
PL 2,234/2022 was first introduced in the Chamber of Deputies in 1991 and permits casinos to be established in tourist centers or consolidated leisure facilities, including luxury hotels, bars, restaurants, and cultural event areas.
Senators opposed to the proposal contend the project would not benefit the country economically and could increase tax evasion and money laundering crimes.
Senator Eduardo Girão argued that gambling addiction is a grave illness that affects families and provokes criminal activity. He also believes the country is ill-prepared due to inadequate regulation.
Rapporteur Irajá agreed with delaying the proceedings and highlighted that 38 amendments have already been proposed. He also believes the postponement is critical for lawmakers to properly examine the proposed changes.
“Now, in the morning, we received five more amendments. They require time for calm and balanced assessment,” said Irajá. “Being prudent, we can admit them or not. The postponement decision meets common sense and the need to analyze the new amendments.”
Emma Rodriguez is the Proofreader at the Big Blind, with seven years of experience and five years in online gambling. She plays a crucial role in maintaining content quality by ensuring error-free, reader-friendly information about the gambling industry.
