Federal deputy Felipe Carreras, who has carried legislation for legalizing gambling in Brazil, has joined the transition team of the incoming president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, also referred to as “Lula.”
As rapporteur for Bill 442/91, Carreras’s appointment to the team would seem to be a fair omen that Lula will support the bill in the Senate. It has already been approved by the Chamber of Deputies.
The legislator will be part of the thematic tourist group of the team. He has been one of the most persistent supporters of the bill, which creates a legal framework for legalizing casinos, bingos and jogo do bicho in the South American country, where gaming has been illegal for decades.
He will lobby for the bill as a way of increasing government revenues and generating jobs, as well as boosting tourism. The new government hasn’t listed gaming as among its priorities, but no one doubts the country needs new sources of revenue.
Opponents, such as House member Reginaldo Lopes said that tourism shouldn’t put its hopes on “games of chance” but on natural riches.
