The Brazilian Senate is expected to vote on the legalization of physical gambling before the July recess. The bill has been designated as urgent, and although the specific voting time has not yet been determined, arrangements are being accelerated.
According to Brazilian media "Metrópoles", Senate President Davi Alcolumbre has informed the parliamentary leadership that he will prioritize the vote on the physical gambling bill. The bill, numbered PL 2,234/2022, was approved by the Judiciary and Citizenship Committee in June this year, but the final Senate vote has been postponed several times. Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino expects the vote to be completed in the first half of the year.
Alcolumbre, who took office as Senate President in February this year, is seen as a key driver in advancing the bill. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is not expected to oppose the bill, and once it passes the Senate vote, it will be given final approval.
Support for physical gambling is gradually rising in Brazilian society. Since the official launch of the Brazilian online gambling market on January 1 this year, despite high taxes and advertising restrictions, the public demand for physical casinos and retail sports betting remains strong. A DataSenado survey funded by the state in April showed that about 60% of Brazilian adults support the legalization of physical gambling, while only 34% are opposed.
Additionally, 58% of respondents believe that the legalization of physical gambling would help increase tax revenue, and 44% think it would create more job opportunities, reflecting economic potential and social expectations.
However, opposition mainly comes from evangelical groups. The chairman of the Evangelical Parliamentary Front, Gilberto Nascimento, has publicly expressed strong opposition to the bill, calling on its members to vote against it and to mobilize. He emphasized that gambling addiction, especially online gambling, is a serious issue and believes that Brazil should not rely on the gambling industry for development.
The future of Brazil's physical gambling bill remains uncertain, with support from the public and economic sectors of the government, but also facing resistance from religious and socially conservative forces. As the voting day approaches, the struggle within and outside the parliament will intensify.
