There is optimism that the momentum generated by pro-gaming advocates under the outgoing Brazilian President, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, may continue if his Workers' Party remains in power.
Brazil appeared to be heading towards the legalisation of casino gaming over the past year, but the timing of the elections effectively ended any hope of real movement on the issue this year.
However, Workers’ Party candidate Dilma Rousseff has a considerable lead over opposition candidate Jose Serra ahead of the election run-off planned for October 31. The apparent likelihood of political continuity has prompted many within the gaming industry to speculate that the legalisation of casino gaming will remain high on the agenda.
The possibility of a legal casino market in Brazil, with its population of nearly 200 million, is understandably an exciting one for the gaming industry. A recent report by Research and Markets revealed that if the country’s US$4.1bn legal lottery market is combined with its illegal slots and bingo activities, gambling revenues would exceed $7bn a year.
