Casino law could unlock up to 70 billion dollars in Brazil
The discussion about Bill 2,234/2022, which seeks to revoke the prohibition of gambling and establish a regulatory framework for casinos, bingos, the "jogo do bicho," and betting on horse racing, has regained momentum in the Brazilian Congress and the tourism sector. The text, ready to be deliberated in the Senate Plenary since July 8, 2025, was withdrawn from the agenda by the Senate president, Davi Alcolumbre, due to low quorum and divided opinions, although it is expected to be discussed again after the legislative recess.
The bill authorizes the installation of casinos in tourist hubs and integrated leisure complexes, resorts, and high-level hotels with at least 100 rooms, infrastructure for events, restaurants, and bars. This model, inspired by international markets, aims to combine tourism, fairs, and entertainment in a single destination, creating hubs capable of increasing visitor stays and hotel occupancy, as well as attracting congresses and shows.
Although online gambling is already regulated in Brazil and has a predominantly mobile user base, the new law intends to transfer the experience that many digital platforms offer to the physical realm, replicating iconic Las Vegas brands. Integrated resorts could enhance campaigns and activities aligned with online players' habits, generating synergies between both worlds.
Regarding the processing, after approval in the Chamber and the endorsement of the Senate's Constitution and Justice Committee in 2024, the bill was sent to the Plenary. The text limits the number of licenses and territorializes the activity: each state and the Federal District may have one license, except São Paulo (up to three) and Amazonas, Minas Gerais, Pará, and Rio de Janeiro (up to two), due to their population or territorial extension. It also foresees the installation of casinos on maritime vessels (up to ten in the country) and on riverboats with a minimum of 50 rooms, with limits according to the length of the rivers. These conditions seek to concentrate investments in well-structured tourist and logistical hubs.
The bill also regulates bingos, with authorizations for 25 renewable years and a minimum social capital requirement, and the "jogo do bicho," with credentials based on population criteria and also for 25 years. Turf entities will be able to operate betting on horse races and, in the same place, operate bingo and videobingo. It establishes the obligation of registration, periodic auditing, and public registration of machines, with gross income sharing between lessor and establishment, reinforcing oversight and transparency.
According to the Federation of Hotels, Restaurants, and Bars of the State of São Paulo (Fhoresp), the approval of the bill could unlock up to 70 billion dollars in investments, from the construction of complexes to workforce training and event promotion. Around 10,000 direct and indirect jobs are projected, and up to 20 billion reais in federal revenue. Additionally, the text creates the National System of Games and Bets (Sinaj) and details public policy objectives, such as independent operational audits and consumer protection standards. The framework seeks to transfer an activity currently dispersed to a formal, supervised, and transparent environment, with the possible creation of a regulatory agency.
This debate is developing alongside the regulation of fixed-odds betting (the “bets”), already regulated by specific laws and by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance. While physical casinos and bingos depend on the bill under analysis in the Senate, sports and online betting continue under their own current frameworks.
The bet on integrated complexes usually translates into new visitor flows and longer stays, a key factor for cities oriented toward business and leisure. For states with logistical or river potential, the possibility of maritime and river casinos adds cruise and cabotage routes to the tourist map, expanding occupancy in the low season and the offer of regional events. The combination of hospitality, convention centers, and entertainment is seen as a multiplier of local income and a mechanism for formalization and revenue collection in currently dispersed chains.
Tags: Brasil, Law 2.234/2022, casinos, bingos, loteria jogo do bicho lottery game, regulation