The president of Caixa Loterias, Lucíola Aor Vasconcelos, announced that the bank intends to operate “bets” from 2025. In addition, it will also accept bets at lottery points in addition to the virtual platform.
The announcement was made last Thursday (22) during the presentation of the public company’s budget for the 2nd quarter of 2024.
Caixa Loterias has requested a license to operate sports betting
Caixa is one of 108 companies that asked the government for authorization to operate in the regulated online betting market. The measure will exclude unregulated companies from January 1, 2025.
Despite the expansion of its “betting” presence at lottery points, Lucíola explains that bets on games currently in force will not be cannibalized.
“Today, the lottery audience is over 45 and the global betting audience is under 35. So that’s what we’re looking for, to bring an audience that we don’t have.”
In mid-June, the executive had already commented on the bank’s intention to operate in the “betting” market and to expand the types of games offered at lottery outlets, such as “scratch cards”.
“Today we have 3,300 physical points, but [Caixa’s bet] will not focus on that. We will act like any betting market, we will be obedient and competitive”, emphasized Lucíola.
However, according to the president, the bank also intends to expand its operations among women who, according to her, do not participate as much in the games as they would like.
Caixa confirmed the request for authorization from the Ministry of Finance through Caixa Loterias, which seeks to work “always in the development of new products and gaming companies”.
The executive also said that the bank’s range of “betting” options can go beyond sports betting, such as online casino games. “Everything possible is studied. That doesn’t mean we have to act. But we weren’t closed to anything,” he said.
“The bank will certainly be one of the main players in this segment. Caixa understands that lotteries have room to grow”, said the bank’s president, Carlos Vieira.
Finance estimates that online betting could generate R$3.4 billion in 2024
If the transaction is finalized, the bank is expected to record an increase in gaming revenue. Last year, Caixa’s lotteries generated a turnover of 23.4 billion reais, of which 9.2 billion reais (39.2% of the total) were allocated to federal government programs in the areas of social security, sport, culture, security public, education and health.
According to the Ministry of Finance, 108 companies submitted requests for subsidies in the preferential period that ends on Tuesday night (20).
The government received 113 requests for authorization to operate betting sites in Brazil. It is estimated that around 220 companies can be created, each offering up to three brands.
If all authorizations follow the rules established in the regulations, the Ministry of Finance estimates that this year alone it will be able to raise around 3.4 billion reais through subsidies.
Requests will be analyzed within 180 days, but other companies may still request authorization outside the preferred period. However, these new requests must go to the ‘end of the queue’.
