Brazil Edges Closer to Legalising Land-Based Gambling

Brazil’s Senate could vote within weeks on a long-debated bill to legalise land-based gambling, with momentum building after the proposal was declared a legislative priority by Senate President Davi Alcolumbre.

The bill—PL 2,234/2022—was approved by the Senate’s Justice and Citizenship Committee in June 2024 but has faced repeated delays in reaching a full Senate vote. That may soon change. According to Metrópoles, Alcolumbre has informed Senate leaders he intends to bring the measure forward as a matter of urgency, potentially before the legislative recess in July.

Alcolumbre’s leadership role has been seen as pivotal. A known supporter of gambling liberalisation, his appointment as Senate President in February 2025 raised expectations that the bill would gain traction after months of inertia. Tourism Minister Celso Sabino had previously expressed confidence that the vote would occur in the first half of the year. While that timeline was not met, the shift in urgency from Senate leadership suggests a breakthrough may be near.

If passed, the bill would still require final approval from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Analysts expect little resistance from the presidency, which has so far shown openness toward gambling sector reforms.

 

Aspect	Status	Public Support	Political Leadership	Opposition
Bill PL 2,234/2022	Pending Senate vote	60% in favour	Senate President supports	Evangelical Parliamentary Front against
Expected Vote	Before July recess	—	Declared urgent	Mobilising opposition
Presidential Stance	Likely approval if passed	—	Supportive	—

Growing Public Support

Recent public opinion research supports the legislative push. An April survey by DataSenado, a state-linked research body, found that 60% of Brazilian adults favour legalising land-based gambling, while just 34% are opposed. Support is grounded in economic expectations—58% of respondents believe legalisation would increase tax revenue, and 44% expect job growth as a result.

The potential for economic gains is especially relevant as Brazil’s online gambling sector, which launched on 1 January 2025, continues to face growing pains. Operators in the digital space have criticised high taxes and strict advertising restrictions, implemented to address concerns around gambling harm and public finance shortfalls.

Despite public support, land-based gambling continues to face strong resistance from Brazil’s influential evangelical community. The Evangelical Parliamentary Front, a vocal conservative bloc in Congress, remains firmly opposed. “I will ask everyone to be against it,” said Gilberto Nascimento, the group’s president, in an April interview with Poder360. “We will mobilise. Everyone is addicted [to gambling], just look at what is happening with [online] betting. Casinos and physical games tend to get worse.”

Nascimento also argued that gambling is culturally misaligned with Brazil’s national identity. There is a clear oppositional statement:

 

Brazil is not a country with a vocation for gambling.

 

Political and Economic Stakes

The upcoming Senate vote, if it proceeds, will be a defining moment for Brazil’s gambling policy. Supporters argue that legalising land-based operations would formalise a shadow economy, generate public revenues, and spur tourism and employment. Critics warn of social costs, including addiction and the potential for increased financial instability among vulnerable populations.

With Senate leadership aligned behind the bill and public opinion tilting in favour, momentum is shifting toward legalisation. But strong ideological opposition remains, ensuring that any final vote—possibly just weeks away—will test both the political and moral consensus in Latin America’s largest economy.