Brazil’s prospects for land-based gambling saw a significant boost on Saturday, February 1, with the re-election of gambling supporter Davi Alcolumbre as Senate president.

Davi Alcolumbre, who previously served as Senate president from 2019 to 2021, has been a strong advocate for gambling expansion in Brazil. As the Senate commenced its 2025 legislative session over the weekend, Alcolumbre was sworn in after securing a decisive victory, winning 73 out of 81 votes.
In his role as president of the Justice and Citizenship Committee (CCJ), he played a crucial part in advancing PL 2,234/2022—a bill aimed at legalizing casinos, bingo, jogo de bicho, and horse race betting. The bill was approved in June 2024 by a narrow 14-12 vote but has yet to receive full Senate approval due to ongoing delays.
With Alcolumbre back in office, the push for land-based gambling legalization could become a higher priority for the Senate.
According to reports from O Globo, Alcolumbre has voiced his support for legalizing land-based gambling. His stance aligns with Brazil’s Tourism Minister Celso Sabino, who recently stated his confidence that the Senate will approve land-based casinos in the first half of 2025.
Meanwhile, at the Senate’s opening session, Hugo Motta was appointed as president of the Chamber of Deputies, following an endorsement from his predecessor, Arthur Lira, a known gambling advocate.
Brazil land-based gambling opponent Girão defeated
Alcolumbre’s re-election also marked a significant win for the gambling industry, considering his opponent in the race.
Senator Eduardo Girão, a staunch opponent of gambling in Brazil, secured only four votes—one of which was his own.
Ahead of the vote, Girão criticized Alcolumbre, referring to him as the “candidate of continuity” due to his pro-gambling stance.
“The candidate of continuity supports casinos and bingo,” Girão stated. “Wasn’t the gambling he backed before enough? I warned it would be a humanitarian and social disaster.
“How can you, in good conscience, look your fellow citizens in the eye while expanding this so-called tragedy with casinos and bingo? This only benefits wealthy tycoons.”