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In just one week the mixed commission tasked with analysing President Lula’s provisional measure received 244 amendments.
BRAZIL LEGISLATION 244 Amendments in Seven Days
Senator Angelo Coronel is advocating for President Lula’s sports betting bill to also encompass bingo halls, the animal game and casinos.
Chile - SJC bides its time for regulatory change The head of the Chilean Gaming Board (SJC), Vivien Villagrán, has said that the board is waiting on the results of the investigation into alleged collusion against Dreams, Enjoy and Marina del Sol to promote regulatory changes in the industry. In an interview with Diario Financiero, the official stated that there was room for improvement due to recent developments within the sector and that the SJC was waiting for the right time to put changes forward.
"We believe that there are pending actions so that the regulatory proposals are robust. The only milestone we are waiting for is whether or not it goes to court. That's key," Villagrán explained. “There are three important aspects to consider in future changes. First, make sure we have a competitive industry and maximise entry barriers without losing clarity . . . Then, review how the pandemic affected the industry and, finally, [look at] the impact of online platforms on the income of physical casinos.”
Regarding the tender process under scrutiny Villagrán pointed out that there were certain things that had caught the attention of the SJC and the authorities, adding: "We want to wait and see how it is evolving and if it gets to the the Free Competition Court.”
Brazil - Bill to bypass Ministry of Finance Deputy Jonas Donizette has put forward bill 2895/2023 which, if enacted, would allow sports betting companies to obtain registration in Brazil without permission from the Ministry of Finance. The project establishes an amendment to Law 13756/2018 that legalised sports betting. The bill signed by Michel Temer, legalised sports betting only. The Ministry of Finance was granted two years to establish a regulatory framework to govern the market and provide for licences, although this could be extended for a further two.
According to the text, as the Ministry of Finance has not established a way to regulate online sports betting sites then companies would be able to commercially operate throughout the country. Sports betting operators would only need to establish a headquarters in Brazil and follow Brazilian laws. In his justification for the bill, Donizette pointed out that “sports betting houses have been growing sharply in Brazil, with estimates published in the press that the volume of bets in this modality is close to R$100bn a year.”
The deputy stated that action was necessary: “in view of the inaction of the Executive Branch... we propose this Bill to provide that the exploitation of sports betting by residents of Brazil will only be allowed to legal entities constituted in accordance with the provisions of Brazilian law, under penalty of committing a criminal misdemeanour.”
P10 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
Long-time supporter of gambling reform Senator Angelo Coronel has put forward a number of amendments to Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s sports betting provisional measure (MP 1,182/2023). In seven days the measure received 244 amendments in the mixed commission that has been tasked with analysing the provisional measure.
Senator Coronel wants the bill to encompass not just sports betting but bingo halls, the animal game, and casinos. Specifically, according to Amendment 223/2023, the senator has proposed the repeal of provisions related to gambling as enshrined in the Criminal Contravention Act which dates to 1941. Lotteries and horse racing are the only forms of gambling permitted under current rules.
With regards to the animal game (jogo do bicho), the senator argued that now is the perfect time to regulate it. Te animal game is the largest illegal lottery in the world estimated to turnover between US$350m to US$800m a year with
Venezuela New casino in Bolívar State
Another casino has opened in Ciudad Guayana, a city in Bolívar State, joining the handful of casinos believed to be in operation.
Details remain thin on the ground as to its size and the terms of its licence. According to a tweet by the state governor the casino was a means by which “Venezuela continues to open spaces for investment and the economic development of the Homeland.” Te governor also bizarrely described the casino as a space for “family entertainment.”
Venezuela has been opening up its economy to some extent but the situation remains dire. Today inflation runs rampant in the once-prosperous OPEC nation. In 2019, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro relaxed price controls and allowed for widespread transactions in foreign currency. Maduro says he wants sanctions to be lifted by the Biden administration and has signalled a
change of approach reflected by the liberalisation of the economy in the last few years.
In September 2021, Maduro pledged to completely launch gambling in the country again with the reopening of 30 casinos. Casinos were outlawed in the country when ex President, Hugo Chávez, opted to shut all casinos and bingo halls, saying they were ‘venues of doom’ that were being used to 'line the pockets of the bourgeoisie’. Te closures left around 100,000 people unemployed.
Maduro has come under criticism for allowing them and, in 2021, a Venezuelan lawmaker called him out on the issue. Deputy Nora Bracho used casinos to highlight the government’s failure to keep the lights on: “While Maduro announces the reopening of casinos in the country the National Electric System is collapsed and on the verge of a total blackout,” she said.
around 20 million people playing the game daily. Combined, bingo halls, casinos and the animal game would provide a huge boost to government coffers.
“It is opportune, therefore, that the National Congress seize the moment and take a position on this issue, removing from our legal system a provision that contradicts a practice widely known and accepted by society. With this evolution, our criminal legislation will adapt to the daily reality of Brazilians and it will be possible to regulate this other economic activity with strong potential to generate revenue quickly.
“If the Federal Government projects gains from sports betting of around R$2bn already in 2024, the estimates with the regulation of other forms of games and with the implementation of casinos raise this projection of tens of billions, considering the sector’s potential impact on GDP and taking countries like Italy as a reference,” he explained.
Brazil
Brazilian footballer, Paulo Henrique Sampaio Filho, known as Paulinho, has signed an ambassador agreement with 1xBet until May 2024. Te attacker has experience within Brazil’s youth team set-up and was crowned under-17 champion in 2019, before going on to win gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
Under the terms of the cooperation agreement, 1xBet has been granted the image rights of the 22-year-old player. Tere will also be a series of joint activities between the footballer and the global bookmaker on social networks including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
"Paulinho is an extremely talented guy. He is a role model for a lot of young Brazilian boys and girls who are passionate about football. We are confident that with the support of 1xBet, the footballer will achieve outstanding success both as a team player and as an individual," commented 1xBet.
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