Brazil gambling reforms delayed again

Hopes that Brazil’s sweeping land and online gambling reforms would receive political approval this year have been dashed by the news that Bill PLS 186/2014 has been returned to the House Committee on Constitution, Justice and Citizenship for more discussion and research by a Senate vote of 44 to 19.

In early November the Special Committee for National Development (CEDN) approved a modified and updated version of legislation that Senator Ciro Nogueira originally drafted in 2014 and sent the proposed legislation to be examined in plenary session in the Senate (see previous report).

However, this week, the proposal was returned by the Senate for further debate. Following an application by Senator Magno Malta requesting the House Committee on Constitution, Justice and Citizenship (CCJ) to conduct a more thorough debate on the matter, it was put to a Senate vote and passed, with senators in favour of returning the proposed legislation to the CCJ for further analysis.

A number of lawmakers were displeased with the delay; Deputy Joao Carlos Bacelar Batista said after 25 years of pending new gaming legislation, it was time that it was approved by the government.

“This is not the time to say that we will not discuss it or that we need to discuss it further. That has passed. We need to decide now. There has been a monumental delay in making a decision on this,” Batista said.

He added that the new gambling laws have the potential to provide a much-needed boost to the struggling economy of Brazil.