Brazil Senate Set to Vote on Long-Delayed Land-Based Casino Bill

Brasília, 8 July 2025 — Brazil’s Senate is preparing to vote on a bill that could legalise land-based casinos nationwide, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s complex and slow-moving gambling reform process. The legislation, known as Bill PL 2,234/2022, has been scheduled for a vote on 8 July after Senate President Davi Alcolumbre placed it as the fourth item on the official agenda.

The proposal follows the formal launch of Brazil’s regulated online gambling market earlier this year, which took effect on 1 January. However, while online operators began entering the market under new licensing conditions, the land-based sector has remained in limbo. Despite committee-level approval in 2023, the casino bill has faced repeated delays — until now.

 

Date of Vote	Bill Number	Potential Revenue	Public Support	Next Step if Approved
8 July 2025	PL 2,234/2022	BRL 20 billion (~USD 3.5 billion)	60% in favor	Presidential approval by Lula

 

Public Sentiment Shifts Toward Legalisation

Support for the legalisation of brick-and-mortar casinos has grown in recent months, buoyed by economic concerns and growing optimism about the industry's potential contributions to public revenue and employment. An April 2025 DataSenado survey found that 60% of Brazilian adults are in favor of allowing physical casinos to operate legally.

According to the same survey, 58% of respondents believe that authorising land-based gambling would increase tax collection, while 44% expect it would help create more job opportunities across the country.

Estimates suggest the legalisation of casinos could generate roughly BRL20 billion (USD $3.5 billion) in annual revenue. Amid rising tax rates on online operators — with the government increasing the GGR tax from 12% to 18% — some stakeholders see land-based gambling as a strategic opportunity to broaden the tax base without placing additional pressure on consumers or existing operators.

Political Pushback and Criminal Concerns

Despite growing public and political support, the bill is not without its detractors. One of the most prominent opponents is Senator Eduardo Girão, a staunch critic of expanded gambling in Brazil. Girão has warned that further liberalisation could worsen public safety issues, citing recent investigative reports that link the gambling sector to increased money laundering activity.

“Just look at the recent headlines in O Globo, Estadão, and Folha,” Girão said during a June session. “Organised crime has never profited so much, or laundered so much money, as it does now under the cover of gambling. This is a major threat to public safety.”

He also challenged the government’s social policy stance, arguing that the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva should reject expanded gambling as a measure inconsistent with its commitment to protecting lower-income populations.

 

Organised crime has never profited so much, or laundered so much money, as it does now under the cover of gambling. This is a major threat to public safety.

Final Hurdle: Presidential Approval

If passed in Tuesday’s Senate session, the bill will proceed to President Lula for final ratification. While the president has not explicitly endorsed the legislation, he is not expected to veto it, particularly given the economic arguments in its favor.

Legal land-based casinos would mark a major shift in Brazilian gambling law, which has prohibited such establishments since 1946. Proponents argue that modern regulatory frameworks, combined with oversight mechanisms and targeted taxation, could help manage risks while unlocking new sources of revenue and tourism.

As Brazil waits on the Senate's decision, the stakes are high — not just for the gambling industry, but for the broader economic and political future of the country.