Brazil Puts Gambling Legalization Vote on Hold Again

Brazil’s long-running debate on legalizing land-based gambling just hit another pause. Senate President Davi Alcolumbre pulled the latest vote on Bill 2234, pushing the issue further down the road—again. A country with a population of over 226 million, no wonder gambling regulation keeps sparking debate. It is a highly lucrative market that operators have had their eyes on for decades.

Good to know

• Only 56 senators were present, too few for a valid vote.
• The bill allows for casinos, bingo halls, horse racing, and jogo do bicho.
• Retail gambling would only be allowed for companies based in Brazil.

Senator Alcolumbre explained that the lack of turnout left him no choice. He said:

“The quorum is very low—56 senators. And this Presidency cannot be questioned, at all times, about the deliberation of matters. In view of the great divergence and the absence of senators, I will remove it from the agenda ex officio.”

Senator Eduardo Girão, a strong opponent of the bill, had already called for a delay. He argued that the issue deserved deeper debate, especially considering its effect on society. Girão said legalizing up to 67 casinos and 700 bingo halls across Brazil could worsen debt among low-income citizens and even benefit organized crime.

He did not stop there. “I’m not the only one saying this,” Girão said and he added:

“The country’s major media outlets, O Globo, Folha, Estadão, have all reported that organised crime has never laundered as much money as it has with the rise of betting platforms.”

According to Girão, the Ministries of Finance, Health, Social Development, and Planning, along with the Federal Police and the national tax auditors’ association, have all voiced formal opposition. He warned that vulnerable communities would be hit hardest and that criminal groups might benefit more than anyone else.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad used the moment to push for heavier taxes on sports betting platforms. He claimed that operators have made huge profits while offering little in return to Brazil’s economy. Haddad said:

 “The previous Government treated betting companies as if they were charitable organisations. Not a single cent of tax was collected in four years.”

Haddad wants betting firms to be taxed in line with industries like tobacco and alcohol. He has also criticized the watered-down tax measures recently passed by Congress. His ministry is looking to roll back those changes and reintroduce the stricter version originally proposed.

Although land-based gambling has been banned in Brazil since 1946, repeated attempts to legalize it have failed due to ongoing pushback rooted in moral and social concerns. Bill 2234 had already cleared the Chamber of Deputies in 2022 and got a nod from the Senate committee last month. But its future remains uncertain after the latest delay.

For now, the bill’s next step is unclear. There is no new date set for a vote, and it will only reach President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s desk after passing through the full Senate.

The post Brazil Puts Gambling Legalization Vote on Hold Again appeared first on iGaming.org.