Paulo Azi cites the limited effectiveness of betting regulations in Brazil.

Federal deputy Paulo Azi (União Brasil-BA) once again defended the legalization of casinos in Brazil and criticized the lack of effectiveness in the regulation of online sports betting. In an interview with Rádio Metropole this Monday (24), the new president of the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) of the Chamber stated that, with the current scenario of gambling in Brazil, the country loses revenue and job opportunities, reveals a report by Metro 1.

“I have always been a proponent of legalizing casinos in Brazil. In many parts of the world, entire cities depend on it, with due care taken to prevent money laundering and protect vulnerable players,” he stated. According to Azi, the prohibition only keeps the activity clandestine, without any economic return for the country.

The congressman also criticized the model adopted by the government for legalizing gambling in Brazil. According to him, regulation should prioritize attracting investment in infrastructure and generating jobs, which has not yet happened. "They created betting companies, which are now powerful and don't pay taxes because the government can't regulate them. They don't generate jobs for the population," he stated.

Azi also mentioned the impact of sports betting on Brazilian football. "When the discussion about regulating and even suspending betting began, the clubs were terrified. Many only survive thanks to these sponsorships, which are currently the largest in national football," he said.

The congressman demanded a firmer stance from the federal government on regulation: “Congress has already voted on what was needed, now the government needs to create the rules. We don't understand why this hasn't been done yet. More than two years of the government have passed and this issue remains open, causing a considerable loss of revenue,” he concluded.