In addition, the government then ruled the federal government’s lottery monopoly was unconstitutional paving the way for states to develop their own lotteries and so the consortium withdrew from the process and the instant lottery plans were abandoned.
Tree years later the idea has resurfaced and Lotex has been re-launched after the Ministry of Finance authorised Caixa in September 2023 to operate the new lottery on a transitional basis until a tender is opened to offer Lotex again to the private sector.
Distribution of the tickets was due to begin in March and the government hopes to collect between R$3bn and R$5bn from the new ‘raspadinha’ (scratchcard) with funds going to sports, culture and social security programmes.
Te introduction of Lotex is part of a package of wider measures to boost revenues and meet Brazil’s goal of zero deficit this year.
Te MoF has given Caixa an emergency notice to start operating the scratchcards for 24 months whilst tenders for other companies to operate are prepared.