Senator Irajá Silvestre, rapporteur of the casino legalization bill in Brazil, anticipates Senate approval in early 2025. He highlights the bill’s potential for job creation and economic development. Drawing comparisons to the challenges faced by agribusiness, he expresses confidence in overcoming public image issues affecting the gaming sector, despite recent legislative delays.
Senator Irajá Silvestre (PSD-TO), the rapporteur for the bill legalizing casinos in Brazil, expressed optimism regarding the approval of PL 2.234/22, anticipated by the Senate in the first half of 2025. He emphasized the bill’s potential to enhance job creation, boost the economy, and attract tourism. During a discussion at the SBC Summit Rio, Senator Silvestre noted that this initiative is a significant positive agenda for the country in 2025, without detracting from other important legislation that is pending.
Senator Silvestre drew parallels between the current betting market controversies and the past challenges faced by Brazilian agribusiness, highlighting how both sectors struggled with adverse public perceptions. He referenced a public image crisis in agribusiness during the early 2000s, which ultimately evolved into a narrative of sustainability and compliance with labor laws. This analogy, he argued, mirrors the ongoing situation in the gaming industry today, which is undergoing similar scrutiny and transformation.
He further acknowledged that the criticisms directed at the online gaming sector in 2024 had impeded the legislative process for the proposed legalization. Although the gambling proposal was slated for a vote in December of last year, it was retracted under pressure from opposing factions, particularly from the evangelical segments within the Senate. Despite these setbacks, Senator Silvestre remains steadfast in his belief that the bill will successfully pass, viewing it as both an economic and social milestone for Brazil while asserting its non-ideological nature.
In summary, Senator Irajá Silvestre is hopeful for the eventual approval of the casino legalization bill, projecting significant economic benefits for Brazil. He likens the current challenges in the online gaming sector to those experienced by agribusiness in the past, advocating for a positive transformation of public perception. Despite recent setbacks in the legislative process, he remains optimistic about the future of the bill.
Original Source: www.yogonet.com
