VIE 29 DE MARZO DE 2024 - 06:47hs.
BgC 2019 - Panel "Lotteries in Focus"

"You can’t take from the states the prerogative of operating their lotteries"

On the first day of BGC 2019, Daniel Homem de Carvalho, lawyer and member of the Special Committee on Sports, Lottery and Entertainment Law of the OAB, was the moderator of the panel that discussed the current stage of the lotteries, which was attended by Kelly Mattos, president of Loterj; Ronan Moreira, general director of the Lottery of the State of Minas Gerais; and Luiz Felipe Maia, lawyer of Fymsa.

Ronan Moreira brought his experience with the Lottery of Minas Gerais, which has a partnership with the private initiative that has been a success in the state. "We have a social function and this is how a lottery should be, in financing social activities for the benefit of those who most need. This is the lottery's role in Minas Gerais. "

Kelly Mattos, for the second time leading Loterj, an entity that completed 75 years ago this week and has done a tireless work for the benefit of the society in Rio de Janeiro, stressed that "one cannot take from the states the prerogative of operating their games, which are the source of revenue to meet the neediest. We can’t be limited in our activities," she said.

                                                       

Luiz Felipe focused his presentation on Lotex and the process of privatization of the instant lottery. "Several audiences and road shows have done the modeling for the bidding, but so far we have not reached a situation that attracted stakeholders. The government and the BNDES have tried to understand this lack of interest. The lack of security for investors is the main factor, coupled with the recent approval of sports betting and the imminent approval of other gaming modalities," said the lawyer.

"With that, there was a setback. In addition, with a 67% fixed payout, the future operator will be handcuffed and if he has to compete, for example with machines that pay 90% of the payout, he will be out of the market because he can’t increase the payout," said Maia.

Daniel Homem de Carvalho challenged the leaders of Rio and Minas lotteries to comment on the fact that they both preside over lotteries in states whose governors-elect are aligned with the decentralization model that is part of the Economy Minister's way of thinking.

                                                        

Ronan said it is really unthinkable not to follow such a premise. States need to have autonomy and permission to continue with their operations: "We bring to the governor the expectation that the regulation of the games will allow the states to have the autonomy to continue operating and bringing benefits to the local communities and the governor Romeo Zema has already given all support for the initiative."

                                                        

Kelly Mattos said that the governor of Rio de Janeiro has given full support to Loterj to continue operating its games, while at the same time working hard for casino approval. "Everyone knows that Rio de Janeiro is one of the states that has attracted the attention of major international operators and the benefits to society will be raised exponentially."
 
Panelists expressed the same feeling that resuming lottery activities by the states is critical to local benefits. Kelly Mattos recalled that "currently, we have only four lotteries in operation in Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Paraíba and Ceará. This shows a very large setback," she said.

Source: Games Magazine Brasil