The crucial vote on Brazil’s sports betting and igaming regulations was postponed on Wednesday after fresh concerns were raised about online casino legislation.
Speaking in the Senate Plenary, senator Omar Aziz said the rules would create an “online casino without supervision,” as reported by Senado Noticias.
She added: “They will pay tax, the government will collect it and the bettor will lose out.”
The Senate Plenary was scheduled to vote on the sports betting and igaming regulations on Wednesday after the Economic Affairs Commission passed Bill 3,626/23 last week.
And those who supported the bill spoke up again in Wednesday’s legislative session.
Senator Angelo Coronel said: “We are not creating any game modality. PL 3,626/2023, initiated by the Executive Branch, regulates fixed bet games, legal in Brazil since Law 13,756, of December 12, 2018.
“Currently, so-called bets, despite being legal, as they are not regulated, are not collecting taxes in Brazil.”
Jorge Kajuru added: “I want to have the right to collect taxes from those who evade [tax collection] today with betting shops.
“Deep down, there are people who want the Lula government not to have this collection, which is fair. It's not being against the Lula government, it's being against Brazil.”
Senado Noticias reports that president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, must now find a new date for another attempt at the vote.
