Brazil has postponed an expected vote on gaming legalization until the next session of the committee hearing the proposal, the Senate Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ). The president of the CCJ, Edson Lobão, has asked that no more changes be made so a vote can be taken at the committee’s next meeting this Wednesday.
Senator Benedito de Lira, who is charged with moving the gaming legislation, said the bill needs some amendments to get the necessary support to pass, and postponed a vote to an unspecified date in the next session of the committee. Although he had assured observers that there were no more hurdles to overcome leading up to an expected vote last week, he now says concerns over how to regulate a gaming industry have been raised, so changes in the bill are necessary.
De Lira would also like to see an amendment that would limit the use of slot machines to casinos, banning them from racetracks and bingo parlors. He also wants to oversight of Jogos do Bicho, the popular Brazilian animal game, left to the federal government, not the states.
Other amendments that would have forced casino operators to cede up to 30 percent of the project to local “partners” were withdrawn.
“Games have always been a part of the civilization’s imaginary,” said de Lira. “They are deeply rooted in the origins of culture. Besides, the long period of the gambling ban in Brazil—almost 75 years—ended up by mistakenly labeling this issue as a matter of moral, and in that way, corrupting its regulation.”
It’s unclear whether there are enough “yes” votes to clear the 27-member CCJ. There are a dozen solid “no” votes, so the upcoming vote could be delayed again.
