Brazil gambling veto stands but pressure for regulation grows

Brazil’s Congress has failed to overturn a presidential veto on a bill that would have regulated sports betting in the country, but pressure to introduce a new regulatory framework appears to be growing.

Although Congress failed to take what would have been an unusual step of overruling President Dilma Rousseff’s veto of the gambling bill, a new bill has already been tabled while another politician has joined the growing ranks of those to have come out in favour of regulation.

Addressing a plenary session on Wednesday, Senator Benedito de Lira became the latest to call for regulation, arguing that the revenue it could generate would help Brazil close its budget deficit.

According to local news publication Agência Senado, Benedito said a large offshore and unlicensed sector meant gambling was a reality in Brazil regardless of whether or not it was regulated.

As eGaming Review reported last week, concerns over the budget deficit are believed to have made Rousseff reconsider her position on gambling, with sources close to the president indicating that she may still be open to regulation.

The next step will be a vote on the new bill introduced last week by Congressman Otto Alencar, which similarly aims to liberalise and regulate gambling in the country, although at this stage it is unclear when that will proceed.