The Brazilian Senate will convene tomorrow to discuss a highly anticipated new bill that covers comprehensive regulation of physical casinos, bingo games, and horse racing activities. This marks a further step towards the full institutional development of Brazil's gambling industry, building on the legalization of iGaming and sports betting.
The bill, No. 2,234/2022, was passed by the House of Representatives last year and will now enter the formal discussion phase in the Senate hearing. The new regulations propose the establishment of casinos in tourist hotspots, integrated resorts, and hotels with more than a hundred rooms, and clearly state that each state and federal district may have one casino, São Paulo may have three, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Amazonas, and Pará may have two, showing the government's attempt to control market expansion through strict regional quotas.
The bill also proposes systematic regulation of bingo games, including both online and offline forms. According to the regulations, each city may have at least one bingo hall, and in more populous areas, an additional hall for every 150,000 people. Operators must demonstrate a minimum paid-in capital of 10 million reais (about 1.83 million US dollars), the license is valid for 25 years and can be renewed once, with a total operating time of up to 50 years.
In addition, the bill also considers special business forms, such as riverboat casinos, which are only allowed to operate on ships with more than 50 cabins, and licenses will be allocated based on river length and navigation frequency. The animal gambling sector will permit one horse racing operator per 700,000 population, and must obtain authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture.
If the bill is successfully passed, slot machines will also be included in the regulatory scope, requiring individual registration and regular government audits. This is expected to tackle the problem of illegal devices flooding the market and provide a basis for taxation and compliance.
It is worth noting that while strengthening gambling regulation, the Brazilian Senate also passed a new rule in May this year, limiting gambling advertising, especially prohibiting athletes, internet celebrities, and celebrities from acting as gambling spokespersons, reflecting the government's search for a balance between industry development and social responsibility.
If the bill is passed, the Brazilian physical gambling market will reach a legalization turning point, potentially bringing new growth points for tourism, employment, and finance, while also raising higher thresholds and responsibilities for compliant operators.
