Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad has confirmed gambling tax in the country will increase from 12% to 18% of GGR.

The Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming or IBJR has spoken up about the increase in tax and said that this would result in the black market growing from 50% to 60%. Six of the largest gambling trade associations have also released a joint statement pointing out that the gambling sector has already contributed significantly to the country and to impose higher tax will be a burden.

Do you think that casinos would continue to want to operate in Brazil with these taxes? I am assuming that as a result, casinos would offer higher prices on their services as well due to the taxes and would most likely drive away customers. Would this eradicate the gambling sector altogether?

This is business for the casino owners, and every business owner wants profit. If the casino owners still consider operating in Brazil to be profitable for them, they will surely operate in that place, and if the tax is too much for them to balance, they will make things a bit harder for the players by increasing the withdrawal fee and also deducting some tax amount from each player, and if the players don't agree with the idea, they will either convince them or leave the place; it's as simple as that.