Brazilian democrat, Paulo Azi, has submitted a bill which calls for the authorisation of 32 casinos across Brazil, according to Games Magazine Brazil.
The legislation, if passed, will allow a public bidding procedure to grant a 30 year licence to different states. Jurisdictions with a population of 15 million or less would be permitted to open one casino, while states with populations between 15 million and 25 million would have two.
São Paolo is set to be the only state that will be authorized to open three casinos due to its 45 million inhabitants. Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia would qualify for two casinos while 23 other states could have one each.
Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson has reportedly proposed two casinos in Brazil, one in Rio de Janeiro and the other in the financial district of São Paulo. The Rio casino could reportedly have a budget of $10bn, the city’s mayor said.
Through the proposals, the government would receive ten per cent of the gross revenues generated by the casinos, which would be directed towards public safety and tourism programs. The funds would be split evenly between the General Fund for Tourism (FUNGETUR) and the National Public Security Fund (FNSP).
If the bill were to be approved, casinos must implement internal measures to ensure that money laundering is prevented, and that steps are taken to ban gambling addicts from stepping foot in the casinos.
Casinos will be able to occupy a maximum of ten per cent of the resort areas, which is required to also include a number of other attractions, including: “convention centers, spas, restaurants, bars, shopping malls, art galleries, museums, theaters, musicals shows, golf courses, sports plazas, theme parks and water parks.”
To be approved, the proposal needs to receive a majority of the 513 MEPs in addition to a majority of the 81 Senators, before proceeding to a presidential sanction.
