The move would reverse a previously announced decision to delay the vote
Senator Irajá mentioned that discussions on the proposal have reached their conclusion and expressed confidence in having enough support to pass the text. He plans to seek assistance from Senator Davi Alcolumbre, chair of the Senate Constitution and Justice Committee, to engage with Rodrigo Pacheco, the House president.
Irajá has been communicating with Presidents Pacheco and Davi, emphasizing the urgency of the matter. He believes that President Pacheco’s prudence will help resolve the issue before the recess.
He also stressed the importance of finalizing the casino bill to focus on regulating the measure, expressing confidence in its approval in the Plenary. Irajá highlighted that the text has been pending for a year and a half, during which time thorough discussions have taken place. He acknowledged the ideological and religious opposition from some colleagues but insisted that the matter is ready for assessment.
The report received approval from the CCJ on June 19, with a narrow vote of 14 to 12, reflecting significant resistance, particularly from senators aligned with the evangelical bloc.
After the approval, Pacheco initially indicated he would form another commission but later stated he was not in a hurry to address the issue. This seemed to be a response to evangelicals who had sought his position on the matter.
The evangelical group argued that legalizing gambling in Brazil could negatively impact consumers and increase gambling addiction rates. Irajá countered this by stating that regulations would be in place if the text is passed by Congress.
One specific rule would prohibit banks from offering loans to gambling addicts and establish a national registry for them. Irajá specified that credit card use would not be permitted, only Pix or debit, and bank financing and loans would be banned. He compared the proposed national player registry to Serasa, aiming to identify compulsive gamblers.
Should the text be approved, it would be sanctioned by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has indicated his support and willingness to sign the measure once it reaches the Palácio do Planalto.
