The author of the bill that would legalize bingo in Brazil is still confident the measure will be discussed and approved by legislators this year, after the current election cycle is up on October 3.
Rep. Regis de Oliveira said discussion and a vote on the bill will most likely be delayed until after elections, owing to pressure from political parties DEM and PSDB. However, according to news sources BNL Magocom and Yogonet, the measure does have the support of the Commission of Constitution, Justice and Citizenship.
The language of the bill reads that bingo halls will pay federal and state taxes amounting to 17 percent of revenues, with 15 percent going to health, 1 percent to culture and 1 percent to investment in sports. Bingo halls also will pay a monthly fee of about $10,940 as part of their obligation to be connected to the central monitoring system, controlled by the tax authorities.
Oliveira predicts the new sector could generate 250,000 jobs.
Opposition to the bill is coming from the author of a very different proposal, one that would ban bingo. Rep. Antonio Carlos Mendes Thame wants more debate on a matter he says is the cause of social problems.
