President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated this Friday (21) that he is likely to sanction the bill proposing the legalization of casinos and gambling, such as bingo and jogo do bicho, in Brazil. However, for Lula, this is not “what will save the country” in terms of revenue and job creation.
In an interview with Rádio Meio Norte in Teresina, Piauí, the president said that if the text is approved in Congress, with an agreement among political parties, “there’s no reason not to sanction it.”
Last Wednesday (19), the Senate’s Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) approved, by 14 to 12 votes, a report on Bill 2.234/2022, which came from the Chamber of Deputies, where it was approved, and has been in the Senate since 2022. The topic is now set to be sent to the House’s plenary.
The proposal allows for the establishment of casinos in tourist hubs or integrated leisure complexes, such as high-end hotels (with at least 100 rooms), restaurants, bars, and venues for meetings and cultural events. The text also proposes the possible issuance of a license for one casino in each state and the Federal District. Some states would have exceptions, such as São Paulo, which could have up to three casinos, and Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Amazonas, and Pará, with up to two each, justified by the size of the population or territory.
Gambling has been prohibited in Brazil since 1946. Opponents of the bill argue about the increase in gambling addiction and the creation of an environment conducive to prostitution, drug use, and organized crime.
President Lula stated that he does not gamble, is not in favor of gambling, but also does not believe it is a crime.
“There was a time when this discourse about gambling had some truth. Of all the games that happen, I always thought that jogo do bicho was the game that distributed money the most, because a person wins R$ 50, R$ 40, R$ 30. This is considered a misdemeanor, it is prohibited. Playing cards, playing poker, betting money is prohibited, making casinos is prohibited. But is there gambling today on television, in sports? Children with cell phones in hand, betting all day long. Who is going to stop this?” he questioned.
“I don’t believe in the discourse that ‘if there are casinos, the poor will spend everything they have.’ The poor do not go to the casino; the poor work in the casino. They might even see their city develop, but they won’t go because the casino is something for people who have money,” the president added.
Those in favor of the bill argue about the economic gains, job creation, and the tourist development of regions with casinos, as well as the increase in tax revenue for the government. Despite agreeing with these benefits, for Lula, “this is not what will solve Brazil’s problems.”
“This easy promise that it will generate two million jobs, that it will develop is not true either. My game is to make the Brazilian economy grow again; my game is to invest heavily in vocational, technical education, universities, and elementary education. My game is to strengthen full-time schools all over Brazil, to generate jobs, increase salaries, distribute income because that is what makes people happy. That is the game the people should bet on, and that is the game the people will win,” he emphasized.
Source: Agência Brasil