Land-based casinos inevitable, says Brazil Congressman Newton Cardoso Jr.
In an exclusive interview with SiGMA during the BiS SiGMA Americas conference taking place this week in Brazil, Congressman Newton Cardoso Jr. expressed optimism and support for the growth of the gaming and sports betting sector in the country.
Qualifying the sector: regulation, investment and expansion
On the issue of gaming regulation in Brazil, Cardoso Jr. acknowledged the challenges the country faces, particularly with regard to the responsible use of welfare income. “We have a lot of people that live on welfare income who are currently using it in gaming, and this is not possible,” he said, stressing the need for clearer legislation that protects vulnerable populations while encouraging responsible industry growth.
He emphasized the need for reforms that “qualify the sector” and create a structured legal framework. “Investing in legalizing casinos, for instance, is going to improve our country and respect our people,” Cardoso Jr. asserted, underlining the role events like SiGMA can play in fostering understanding and progress.
Touching on the regulatory journey, the Congressman pointed out that Brazil, unlike many other countries, began with online gaming. “Due to our tourism potential and the quality of the experiences we offer, it’s inevitable to have land-based casinos very soon approved in Congress,” he predicted, signaling a future expansion of the sector.
Congressman Newton Cardoso Jr. on SiGMA’s role in Brazil’s gaming future
In his remarks, Cardoso Jr. acknowledged the role of SiGMA as a major driver of international investment and dialogue, calling it “the largest conference of them all” and lauding the organizers for their consistent effort to connect investors with Brazil’s policy landscape.
“This is my fourth or fifth year participating,” he shared, emphasizing the steady evolution of the event and its increasing importance to Brazil’s economic and regulatory environment. “It’s very important to make a connection between the policy-making that we have in Brazil and the fact that investors have made this possible.”
He credited the Ambassador of Malta to Brazil, John Aquilina, for introducing him to SiGMA and its founder, Eman Pulis, highlighting the collaborative spirit between Brazil and Malta.
“Of course when a country has such an investment in education, has a traditional investment in internationalizing their economy, it becomes a nation of greater size than their geography and this is the case of Malta, it’s so much larger than the country itself because of the people that live there and the people of Malta are well respected and well welcomed in Brazil anytime.” he said, praising the Maltese for their commitment to education and international cooperation.
“The people of Malta are well respected and well welcomed in Brazil anytime.”
As he concluded, Cardoso Jr. expressed a personal hope to visit Malta, describing it as a dream destination. “I’m just waiting for the invitation,” he said with a smile.
