Brazil's long-shelved proposal for the regulation of physical casinos will be put back on the agenda after the Senate recess. Bill No. 2234/2022 proposes to allow the legal operation of physical casinos, bingo halls, instant lotteries, and horse race betting, which have been banned since 1946.
The progress of this bill has been slow over the years and it was not passed in 2023. Last year, Senator Irajá Abreu (PSD-TO) resubmitted the proposal, but the Senate vote was postponed. Currently, the Speaker of the House has listed this bill as a priority for review in the second half of 2025.
The rapporteur of the bill stated that the legalization of gambling would help expose long-standing underground gambling activities and, under government regulation, could bring tax revenue to states and municipalities. The proposal would also promote the construction of large tourist complexes, create millions of jobs, and boost national tourism development.
Despite opposition from some conservatives, especially evangelical legislators, Abreu cited a DataSenado survey indicating that 60% of Brazilians support the legalization of casinos.
The bill stipulates that casinos must be located in resorts or integrated leisure centers with at least 100 guest rooms and multifunctional facilities. Casinos on sea and river vessels are also allowed. Most states are limited to one casino, São Paulo can have three, and some states can have two. The number of river casinos is limited based on the length of the river.
Bingo halls will receive permanent operating licenses, allocated according to population ratio. Sports venues that can accommodate at least 15,000 people can also host games periodically. The license is valid for 25 years, with a minimum capital requirement of 10 million Brazilian reais.
The Jogo do Bicho instant game is allowed to operate according to population ratio, and horse race betting must be conducted through tourism entities certified by the Ministry of Agriculture and can be jointly operated with bingo games.
The bill proposes strict registration and auditing requirements for slot machines, with 60% of the revenue going to the casino or bingo hall and 40% distributed to the equipment lessor.
