Further changes are set to be implemented across the Brazilian gambling landscape as land-based casino legalisation is being touted by the industry.
It comes amidst plans laid out by the Ministry of Tourism, which backed a bill that would legalise land-based casinos, in what would be a significant move for the country’s gambling sector.
Celso Sabino gave his support for the bill during a meeting with BRICS nation ministers in Brasília, as he underpinned the potential it could have on the economic development of the country.
He said: “As a government body focused on tourism development, we support the proposal, as do other ministries. We want to attract more visitors and encourage domestic travel.”
Furthermore, at the heart of the proposals is a bid to bolster tourism within Brazil, as it looks to accelerate the integration of gaming into the economic growth and culture of the country.
Sabino also revealed to media in the country that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is inclined to sign the bill into law if it passes Congress, an assurance that signals executive alignment with tourism-focused reforms.
The bill now hangs in the balance, with Senate President Davi Alcolumbre indicating his intention to bring it to a plenary vote before the end of the semester. Supporters and the industry will be buoyed by the sentiment of Senator Irajá (PSD-TO), who emphasised that there is sufficient support to approve the legislation, citing informal counts of at least 41 committed votes, nine short of the more comfortable majority Senate leaders would prefer.
However, negotiations between Congress and federal ministries, including the Treasury and the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, suggest that consensus remains fluid.At the heart of the bill is a proposed regulatory framework introducing new tax instruments. A 17% levy, labelled the Economic Domain Intervention Contribution for Games (CIDE-Jogos), would apply to gross gaming revenues, while corporate income tax on net prizes would be fixed at 20%.