On December 17, 2025, the Plenary of the Federal Senate rejected the request for urgent consideration of the bill that authorizes the operation of casinos and bingo halls, legalizes the jogo do bicho, and permits betting on horse racing in Brazil. As a result, the proposal will now follow the ordinary legislative procedure, with no set date for review by the Plenary of the legislative body.
By 36 votes to 28, senators decided to reject the request for an urgent regime, which had been submitted at the beginning of the last deliberative session of the year by the President of the Senate, Senator Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP). Consequently, Bill No. 2,234/2022 will continue its regular processing through the committees and within the legislative calendar.
The rapporteur of the matter, Senator Irajá (PSD-TO), had expressed support for the proposal, incorporating amendments and adjustments into the text originally approved by the Chamber of Deputies. The matter, under review in the Senate since 2022, had already been approved by the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) in June 2024.
Senators opposed to the urgent consideration request, including members of the evangelical parliamentary group and opposition parties, argued that the issue is controversial and should not be addressed at the end of the year, on the eve of the legislative recess. Criticism was also raised regarding the potential social and economic impacts of authorizing games of chance in the country.
Despite the rejection of the urgency request, the proposal will remain under consideration in the Senate and may return to the agenda next year for discussion and a Plenary vote.