Brazil’s prolonged effort to legalise land-based casinos has been delayed once again after lawmakers rejected a request to fast-track the bill.
On Wednesday, the Senate plenary voted 36–28 against granting urgency to the land-based gambling proposal. As a result, PL 2,234/2022 will proceed under the standard legislative timetable, with no clear indication of when it will be brought to a full vote.
The bill seeks to legalise land-based casinos, bingo, jogo do bicho, and betting on horse racing.
Although PL 2,234/2022 was approved by the Justice and Citizenship Committee last year, its progress has slowed, with the vote delayed multiple times.
This comes despite earlier comments from Senator Irajá Abreu, the bill’s rapporteur, who said that legalising land-based gambling could generate up to BRL20 billion (US$3.6 billion) in tax revenue.
Opposition remains strong among some lawmakers. Senator Eduardo Girão, a vocal critic of gambling, cautioned that legalisation could harm vulnerable communities, arguing that the inclusion of bingo would disproportionately affect poorer citizens.
However, Senator Weverton said the proposal should be decided soon, pointing to its potential economic benefits. He questioned opposition to regulated casinos, noting that a legal, physical casino would generate tax revenue for individual states.
Wait for land-based casinos in Brazil goes on
Political efforts to legalise land-based gambling in Brazil date back to 1991, when PL 442/1991 was first introduced. The proposal has since undergone numerous revisions and amendments, eventually evolving into its current form.
Despite this long history, full legalisation continues to be delayed due to the issue’s controversial nature. Opposition has intensified in recent years, particularly amid heightened public and political scrutiny of online gambling, which officially came under regulation on 1 January this year.
Optimism had grown that progress would lead to the legalisation of land-based casinos in 2025, especially after a DataSenado survey showed that 60% of Brazilian adults support their approval.
However, this latest setback has cast renewed uncertainty over whether — and when — regulated land-based gambling will ultimately receive approval.
