Deputy Elaborates PL for Launch of Social Lottery in Tocantins

Tocantins deputy Ricardo Ayres (PSB) drafted a bill for the development of a Tocantins State Lottery – the Social Lottery. According to the text, the lottery can be exploited by the state government and is based on a recent decision by the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

According to the deputy, the financial surplus obtained by the new tender will be destined only for essential sectors aiming at social development.

“With the social lottery we can raise funds to apply to education, science and technology and so many others that need funding to promote effective actions for our population,” he declared.

Ayres asked for the cooperation of the other deputies and the Government of Tocantins for the rapid approval of the bill.

“With a state lottery, in addition to promoting public policies, we may also be able to generate more jobs and income for Tocantins with the lottery agencies to be implemented,” he added.

Lotins

It is worth remembering that the state already had a state lottery modality, created in 1989. The so-called “Lotins” operated until the year 2000, when it was closed by Law No. 1123, of 02/01/2000.

Status of state lotteries

State lotteries already exist in other parts of the country, such as in Rio de Janeiro, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Mato Groso, Piauí, Ceará and Minas Gerais.

The Minas Gerais lottery transferred approximately 33 million reais for actions to combat the new coronavirus, a current example of the application of funds for social purposes.

STF overturns Union exclusivity in lottery

The project by Ayres is based on the decision taken by the STF on September 30th. On that occasion, the Supreme Court defined that the exploitation of lotteries is not exclusive to the Union.

With a unanimous decision, the ministers established that the states, even if they do not have legislative competence on the issue, can also create state contests. In this case, the government of Tocantins could relaunch “Lotins” or another lottery modality.