Speaking at this week’s Brazilian Gaming Congress, taking place in Sao Paulo, Nelson Marquezelli, federal deputy of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, said the need for gaming regulation in the country is greater than ever.

Addressing delegates alongside Herculano Passos, federal deputy and president of the Mixed Parliament Front in Defence of Tourism at the Chamber, Marquezelli said: “The debate is very important because there is big hypocrisy in Brazil.

“We already have illegal casinos and 1,200 unofficial ‘houses’ that process gaming. It’s not if legislation will happen, but when.

“Gaming is already here – the important word is ‘legalise’. We need to modernise and legalise gaming in Brazil,” said Marquezelli.

He went on to argue that casinos would generate a significant number of jobs and create much needed economic movement in Brazil. “Tourism improves greatly when you have casinos,” he said.

“They generate taxes and liquidity for government. The aim is to gather resources from those that can afford to play and redistribute them to other areas.”

To read more from the Brazil Gaming Congress, including more comments from Marquezelli and Passos, visit SBC Americas.