Legislation that paves the way for a regulated iGaming market in Brazil has been narrowly passed by the country’s powerful Chamber of Deputies, enabling a draft Bill to progress to the Federal Senate.
Those Deputies highlighted the need to control what is currently a huge illegal betting and gaming market, with Deputy Herculano Passos focusing on the benefits to the tourism industry: “An integrated resort casino will provide the world conventions that bring foreign tourists. In these casinos, for sure, there will be commerce, shopping centres, musical events, sporting events. This will attract a huge tourism chain generating development.”
One interesting aspect of this development is the role played by the Brazilian Association of Skill Games (ABJH). An agreement between the association and Federal Deputy Felipe Carreras ensured that the draft text includes clear distinctions between games of skill and betting. Brazil’s large poker playing and eSports communities were then able to join forces and clearly and very publicly demonstrate the size of the skill gaming community across the country.
