Caixa Will Return to Distributing Scratch Cards at Lottery Outlets in March

BRAZIL (January 14, 2024) —  The distribution had been suspended in 2015, but an August decree allowed it again. In December, the government authorized an emergency operation.

Caixa’s operation will continue until the bidding for interested companies is opened and finalized by the government. The bank’s project for resuming national distribution must be delivered to the Ministry of Finance by the end of January, and scratch cards (Lotex) will be in lottery outlets by March.

“Five years ago, only Caixa had a sufficient distribution network for Lotex. As the previous government had given the notice to Caixa to do so, it could not participate. We will launch the tender notice for other companies, but we have already released the ( emergency notice, with Lotex operated by Caixa for 24 months”, Francisco Manssur, special advisor to the Ministry of Finance, told Globo .

“Caixa has to start operating scratch cards in March and put the products on the street”, revealed Manssur.

The ministry’s future Prizes and Betting Secretariat will also oversee games operated by Caixa Econômica Federal.

Physical or virtual means

Created in 1990, “scratch cards” were tickets that players could buy at lottery outlets. By scratching a field — or a set of fields — the bettor knew instantly whether he had won a cash prize.

In 2015, the game was suspended after a decision by the Ministry of Finance. In the same year, a law created Lotex, redefining the gaming model.

Only in 2018, the government regulated the law that established the Instant Lottery. According to the rules, bets can be placed using a physical or virtual ticket. Operations must be approved by the Ministry of Finance.

During Jair Bolsonaro’s government, there were two attempts to transfer the Instant Lottery to the private sector, but without success.

SOURCE: O Globo Agency