UOL: Rapporteur wants poker and fantasy games included in bill that legalizes gambling.
The rapporteur for the bill that aims to legalize gambling, federal deputy Felipe Carreras (PSB-PE), is considering including a chapter in the text that deals with poker and fantasy games — online competitions in which bettors create teams based on real players and accumulate points according to their performance, like Cartola FC.
The aim of the maneuver is to reduce resistance to the bill currently being debated in Congress, especially from the religious wings of the Chamber and the Senate, and to give the text a lighter tone, since poker and fantasy games have popular appeal and are considered games of skill—so called because the gambler's skill counts as much as, or even more than, luck.
Skill games were already included in Carreras' draft report, but were removed by the congressman himself before the parliamentary recess in December. The goal was to reach an agreement for the approval of a separate text solely to address this type of game.
The removal of the chapter, however, has hampered the efforts being made to approve the bill—especially by the Speaker of the House, Arthur Lira, and the Minister of the Civil House, Ciro Nogueira, both from the PP party. "We are indeed evaluating [the reinstatement of the chapter]," Carreras told UOL.
Evangelical resistance
The current proposal only includes the legalization of casinos, bingo halls, and the jogo do bicho (a type of illegal lottery), establishing taxes on these activities should the law come into effect. However, parliamentarians from the evangelical wing, including those linked to the current executive branch, state that they will not support the project.
They argue that legalizing gambling in Brazil will intensify money laundering, drug trafficking, and gambling addiction. They believe the losses would outweigh the financial benefits from increased tax revenue.
The rejection by religious leaders, however, will not stop them from being part of the government's allied base or from voting in favor of other issues of interest to the Presidential Palace.
Attempt at regulation
The Ministry of Economy had drafted a decree to regulate skill-based games, especially virtual ones, with a focus on fantasy games.
The government's text, however, did not advance in the Civil House, which was responsible for rejecting the draft before the rule was signed by President Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
Contacted for comment, the Minister of the Civil House, Ciro Nogueira, did not respond to questions about why the draft was rejected. If there is a response, the statement will be included in this text.
Project ready to be voted on.
With or without skill-based games, the gambling bill is ready to be voted on in the Chamber's plenary session. Deputies in favor of it want Arthur Lira to put it to a vote this month. The expedited processing of the text was easily approved in the plenary session in December, shortly before the recess.
The Evangelical Parliamentary Front in Congress is betting that President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) will veto the bill. Even so, it is still trying to convince parliamentarians who support gambling to change their position.
One request to Lira is that the project not be analyzed through the remote system, which is in effect until Carnival. According to sources close to the president of the House, it is easier to reverse votes or reach an agreement in person.
Opposition to the legalization of gambling unites the evangelical bloc with Catholics — the CNBB (National Conference of Bishops of Brazil) even released a statement against the project — and part of the left. Critics of the idea also claim to be counting on eventual opposing pressure from public opinion, which gains weight in an election year. ( From UOL, in Brasília – Lucas Valença)
