Analysis: The importance of research for the legalization of gambling.

By: Magno José

The national survey will serve as a benchmark for the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches to decide whether this sector should remain underground.

The survey commissioned by BNL Data /IJL from Paraná Pesquisas will be fundamental to the process of legalizing gambling in the country. The survey results show what a large part of Brazilian society thinks about the sector and how this activity, legalized and regulated, can be an important instrument to boost the economy, generating jobs, increasing tax revenue, profits from licenses for the establishment of gambling establishments, and promoting tourism.

Despite this negative scenario, the national survey had a positive result, and will be useful and serve as a reference for the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches to decide whether this sector should remain clandestine. Illegal operations do not pay taxes and therefore do not contribute to society.

Double rejection of the resort casino model.

In addition to the overwhelmingly favorable stance (58,0%) toward legalization when they are aware of the advantages of regulated gambling and the agreement (56,8%) with using the activity as an alternative source for paying emergency aid during the Covid-19 pandemic, the research also debunked a myth created by some political actors, that the best model for Brazil is the legalization of integrated resorts with casinos.

According to a survey by Paraná Pesquisas, only 14,3% of respondents suggest legalizing casinos only in integrated resorts. This result is slightly higher than another survey conducted in May 2019 by the same institute among federal deputies, which at that time indicated that only 7,2% of parliamentarians preferred casinos 'only in integrated resorts'.

Research has also debunked a myth created by some political actors, that the best model for Brazil is the legalization of integrated resorts with casinos.

The gaming market in Brazil is a victim of the hypocrisy of public authorities, which contaminates part of the press and society. The solution found worldwide for issues related to money laundering, gambling addiction, and crime involving games has been the legalization and constant regulation of the activity by the State.

Analysis: Research was conducted during a period of negative environment for gaming.

Check out the full research report from the Paraná Research Institute, commissioned by BNLData/IJL.