The State Finance Department (Sefaz) published a new notice with the aim of choosing a company to operate the State Lottery system of Mato Grosso do Sul (Lotesul). State-administered games have been suspended for almost 20 years, following a legal dispute.
New notice seeks to hire a specialized company to implement and operate a technological solution. In addition, it must also take control of lotteries, integrated with payment methods.
The same company must manage and control the activities and financial flow of State lottery operators.
The winner of the notice must carry out the necessary maintenance, customization and updates during the contract, as well as the full delivery of the source code and database at the end of the contract.
The electronic auction is scheduled to take place on March 17th, at 8:30 am, on the domain: www.compras.ms.gov.br.
According to a technical study, the service could earn R$9.8 billion in 10 years of operation. Of this total, R$7.5 billion would be distributed in prizes.
Understand the case
In 2021, Reinaldo Azambuja, governor at the time, sanctioned the return of service in the State. According to the law enacted that year, 50% of these resources would be allocated to financing programs in the area of housing.
The Executive Branch transferred R$146 thousand in additional credits in the 2021 financial year to comply with the law. In August 2022, the government published a notice for those interested in operating the new version of Lotesul, but was challenged in the STJ (Superior Court of Justice).
Decisions from the first and second instance, in Mato Grosso do Sul, upheld the request from the Paraná company NGT Brasil Tecnologia e Atividades Lotéricas LTDA.
Interested in exploring the service, the lawyers filed a writ of mandamus against the notice, pointing out that the government did not launch the tender to choose just one company, but a public call in which several could meet the requirements.
The State Attorney General’s Office (PGE) filed an appeal, but the STJ maintained the decision to annul the notice, in June 2024.
