Wire SOUTH AMERICA


Te Executive Power must consider the existence of its tourist heritage and the economic and social impact the casino would have on the region.


BRAZIL LEGISLATION Brazil Bill Approved by Year End?


Brazilian lawmaker promises that the country’s long-awaited gaming bill should be approved before the end of the year.


Domincan Republic - Lottery outlets closed The administrator of the National Lottery, Teófilo Quico Tabar, reported the closure of lottery outlets that had not accepted the 120 day grace period and registered with the relevant authorities.


In a letter addressed to the National Federation of lottery outlets (FENEBANCA), the official reported that after delivering an updated list of outlets, points of sale and agencies, he had identified those that were still open and had not registered with the government. As a result he indicated that the government would begin the closure process in coordination with the Public Ministry.


The National Lottery has been warning for months that the government would take action. According to information provided by the Public Ministry, the preliminary list of outlets that accepted the regulation process is registered on the web portal www.casinos.gob.do, and is classified by provinces and municipalities.


In August lottery outlets, which were operating illegally or outside the scope of their operating permits, were given 120 days to comply with new rules issued by the Ministry of Finance. Later in the same month President Luis Abinader ordered a major overhaul of the lottery sector in the Dominican Republic stating that lottery regulation was a matter of national interest. The decision was contained in Decree 63-22, which also gave the Ministry of Finance the responsibility to prepare or put forward any new regulatory measures that might be necessary. The General Directorate of Casinos (DGC) stated that Law 139-11 established a single tax of 35,000 pesos per year for Dominican lottery outlets. The clarification came as a response to FENABANCA’s request, which demanded that the Government “refrain from charging taxes to all owners of Lottery Banks that had registered as part of the regularisation process.


In October Teófilo Quico Taba criticised the National Federation of Lottery Banks (FENABANCA), saying that it wanted to “blackmail” the Government. Through a statement, the official warned of future protests saying that demonstrations were a way to avoid paying taxes.


Brazil - Lottery proposed for state of Ceará Governor Izolda Cela has put forward a bill to the Legislative Assembly that would allow for an expansion of gambling in the state via the private sector. The proposal would enable the state lottery to expand its portfolio, through concession and licensing agreements to private companies, if current state regulations can be updated. The bill is under the review in the committee stage. If approved it will go to a vote in the plenary.


P8 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS


Bill 442/91, which was passed in the lower house and is now in the senate, could be passed after the Presidential elections. Te information was confirmed by Deputy João Carlos Bacelar Batista. Bacelar is a member of the Mixed Parliamentary Front for the Approval of the Regulatory Framework for Games in Brazil and a long time supporter of a liberalised market.


“We approved it in the first semester; the matter went to the Federal Senate and is awaiting a rapporteur to go to the plenary. Te expectation is that it will be voted on this year, the Senate president has signalled that after the election he would put the matter [on the agenda] regardless of who is elected,” he said.


According to the text approved by the Chamber, casinos may be installed in resorts as part of an integrated leisure complex that must contain at least 100 high-end hotel rooms, meeting and event venues, restaurants, bars and shopping centres. Each state may have one casino, with the exception of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, which may have two, and São Paulo, three. Casinos may be built in resorts as part of an integrated leisure complex that must contain at least 100 high-end hotel rooms, meeting and event venues, restaurants, bars and shopping centres. Te physical space of the casino must be, at most, equal to 20 per cent of the built-up area of the complex and electronic and roulette games, cards and other authorized modalities can take place on site.


In order to determine the places where casinos can be opened, the Executive Power must consider the existence of its tourist heritage and


the economic and social impact the casino would have on the region.


Each economic group may hold only one licence per state, and licensing will be carried out by a public tender. Additionally, the Executive Branch may grant the operation of two casinos in leisure complexes in states with a dimension greater than 1 million square kilometres (Amazonas and Pará). In locations classified as tourist centres or destinations, the building of a casino will be allowed, regardless of the population density of the state in which they are located. A tourist casino cannot be located less than 100 kilometres away from any casino integrated into a leisure complex.


Casinos will be allowed on river vessels, one for each river 1,500 km to 2,500 km in length; two for each river with a length between 2,500 km and 3,500 km; and three per river with a length greater than 3,500 km. Tese vessels cannot be anchored in the same location for more than 30 consecutive days, and the concession can be for up to ten establishments. Tese ships must have a minimum of 50 high-end rooms, restaurants and bars and shopping centres, as well as venues for events and meetings.


In the case of bingo, the text allows its exploitation on a permanent basis only in bingo houses, allowing municipalities and the Federal District to explore these games in stadiums with a capacity of over 15,000 fans. Bingo houses must have a minimum capital of R$10m. Te minimum area is 1,500 square meters, where up to 400 video bingo machines can be located. Slot machines will be prohibited.


Argentina Online regulations published in Mendoza


Te government of Mendoza has published a resolution regulating online gambling. Both online sports betting and online casinos will be permitted. Among the arguments for taking the measure the resolution states: “It is necessary to regularise and regulate online gambling activity in order to combat illegal gambling, protect the rights of minors, consumers and users, promote responsible gambling and prevent money laundering.”


Te 130 page long document


(Resolution 554/22) puts in place technical requirements for the development of online gaming activity in the province and puts the Provincial Institute of Games and Casinos of Mendoza (IPJyC) in charge of supervising the newly regulated industry. Te regulations were drawn up by the IPJyC Online Gaming Commission, an interdisciplinary team that received training from GLI.


Now that the regulation has been published and approved, it is understood that the bidding for


operating permits will proceed. Priority will be given to companies that already have a permit and/or concession for the installation and operation of game rooms or are service providers of slots.


However, other companies may take part in the bidding process, alone or via a Temporary Union of Companies (UTE) with national and international operators. UTE is a legal term meaning that two or more companies or individuals submit a joint offer to a public bid.


Operators will be able to offer casino games and sports betting, but they will be unable to run lottery games.


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