Brazil: Finance Minister calls for progress on casino and bingo regulation

Finance Minister Fernando Haddad described the delay as an “inversion of priorities” when compared to online betting.

Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad has urged lawmakers to move forward with the regulation of land-based casinos and bingo halls.

During a TV interview, Haddad noted that the issue has stalled in Congress after the Senate postponed the vote in July and said the delay reflects an “inversion of priorities,” since online betting has already been legalised and regulated.

Haddad stressed that casino activity is not a mass-market product but rather an economic driver for specific tourist hubs. 

“I even find it strange that virtual gaming was approved but not land-based gaming. The masses don’t enter casinos. The focus is more on tourism, in specific locations, with different attractions,” he stated.

“It generates jobs, tourism flows, something Brazil has great potential for and has just broken a record in visitors,” he added.

Good to know: Haddad has also defended raising the online betting tax rate from 12% to 18%

By contrast, Haddad noted that online gambling has become highly popular in Brazil and explained that tax revenue from online betting has been assigned for healthcare, given the social risks associated with mass participation.

Brazil’s regulated online betting market has experienced strong growth in 2025. In the first half of the year, more than 17.7 million Brazilians placed bets, generating BR17.4bn ($3.22bn) in gross gaming revenue for licensed operators. 

The new regulatory framework, which took effect in January, has been credited with creating clearer rules and greater market security.

Alex Rivera

Writer

My goal is to explain how gaming, esports, and betting intersect in ways that readers can actually understand, without stripping away the entertainment that makes the space compelling.

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