Brazil’s government<\/a> will be upwards of $5.5 billion short in expected revenue. The gap is the result of a collapsing oil production industry and dwindling middle class.<\/p>\nBrazil’s economy experienced nearly two decades of growth between the mid 1990s and 2010. But six years ago, Brazil suffered an economic contraction, and the country’s primary exports collapsed on reduced demand.<\/p>\n
Dilma Rousseff was ousted from the presidency in the summer of 2016 after it was revealed that she concealed the country’s dismal finances in order to win re-election. Brazil’s credit rating was downgraded by Standard & Poor’s to BBB, a classification just above a junk rating.<\/p>\n
Legalizing casino gambling would generate substantial new tax revenues for the country. It’s estimated that more than $4 billion is bet on Jogo do Bicho each year alone.<\/p>\n
Catch-Up Game<\/b><\/h2>\n
Adding insult to Brazil’s injured financial state is of course the 2016 Summer Olympics. Though the Games went off without any major problem, the host country is on the hook for footing the bill that exceeded forecasted costs.<\/p>\n
When all was said and done, the price tag for the 17-day sports extravaganza totaled $4.56 billion. While that’s $10 billion cheaper than the 2012 Olympics in London, Rio still overspent by 51 percent.<\/p>\n
If Brazil would have legalized sports betting and gambling prior to the Summer Games, the country could have theoretically benefited from the influx of tourists to the country through gaming.<\/p>\n
William Hill<\/a>, one of the world’s largest betting brands, says it’s not too late. The British bookie recently said legalizing casinos in Brazil “would be one of the most significant events in gaming history.”<\/p>\nThe fifth-largest country by population and land area, economists believe Brazil could pull in close to $3 billion a year in casino tax revenue should it take steps to legalize.<\/p>\n
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Brazil gambling legislation has been a topic of consideration in the country’s federal government over the last several years, but today betting remains illegal in South America’s largest country. Gambling has been outlawed in Brazil for the last 70 years, but lawmakers in the National Congress are trying to change that through a wide-reaching gaming […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":41914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,13,61],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Brazil Gambling Bill to Legalize Casinos and Internet Gaming Approved by Senate Committee<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n