Brazilian Innkeepers Advocate for Casinos in Existing Resorts
Innkeepers in Brazil are advocating strongly for the integration of casinos into established resort properties. They contend that this approach would yield mutual benefits, stimulating tourism while circumventing superfluous construction in a nation grappling with a past marked by budget overruns on large-scale projects.
In a recent gathering of the parliamentary tourism committee, stakeholders representing the hospitality sector, including the Brazilian Hotel Association, the Brazilian Association of Resorts (ABR), the Brazilian Federation of Lodging and Food, and the Brazilian Forum of Hotel Operators, articulated their reservations regarding the current legislation. Although they express support for the legalization of casinos, they perceive the restriction on new construction to a maximum of 32 integrated resorts nationwide as an oversight.
ABR President Alberto Cestrone underscored the ample capacity of existing resorts to accommodate these casinos. These properties already possess the necessary infrastructure, obviating the need for substantial capital outlays, and are poised for immediate operation with established lodging and facilities.
This impetus for integrating casinos into existing resorts aligns with Brazil’s evolving perspective on regulated gambling. Following the legalization of sports wagering in 2018, a new bill now proposes granting states the authority to establish casinos, with the permissible number linked to population figures.
Regions with a populace ranging from 15 to 25 million inhabitants would be granted permission to manage a pair of gambling establishments. Conversely, states exceeding that population threshold could possess a ceiling of three such venues. This proposed legislation is presently undergoing deliberations within the legislative body.
