Lawyer and lottery expert Roberto Brasil Fernandes shared the stage with Hazenclever Lopes Cançado (Loterj), Francisco Petrônio (Lotep), Everton Sales (Lotese), and Eduardo Paiva (Lototins).
At the opening, Brasil Fernandes highlighted the important role of state lotteries in generating employment and income, as well as directing revenue toward social programs. “This is the primary function of a lottery, and the Supreme Federal Court’s (STF) interpretation makes this clear — as well as the autonomy states have in operating modalities authorized at the federal level,” he stated.
According to him, states are within their rights and operate in a legal and solid environment, adopting all practices of Responsible Gaming, transparency, and compliance “with great responsibility.”
Regarding the government’s proposal to increase taxes on betting, Fernandes called it incomprehensible. In his view, additional federal revenue should not come from higher taxation but rather from direct efforts to curb the illegal market and bring unlicensed operators into formal regulation.
As expected, Hazenclever Lopes Cançado was one of the most outspoken panelists, criticizing the government’s plan to raise taxes on sports betting and online gaming operators, citing Rio de Janeiro as an example of a model that works. “We have a fixed licensing fee that represents one-sixth of the amount charged by the federal government, as well as a variable rate set at 5%. These resources fund the social work carried out by Loterj,” he explained.
According to Hazenclever, the government and its economic team are misinformed about the realities of the betting and online gaming sector. “Believing that increasing direct taxes on bets will help is shooting yourself in the foot — it will drive companies away from the regulated national model,” he warned, emphasizing that Rio de Janeiro welcomes serious companies interested in operating in the state. “Regulating is different from collecting,” he concluded.
Francisco Petrônio, superintendent of Lotep, agreed with his colleague from Rio and stressed the need to find a balance between responsibility, realistic taxation, and sustainable growth for the sector. “You cannot talk about balance and legal certainty while constantly changing direction and imposing unrealistic tax burdens,” he said.
VLTs (Video Lottery Terminals)
The panel also discussed the role of VLTs in the regulated state lottery market. These devices, certified by globally renowned and highly qualified laboratories, have already been approved and meet the requirements in the states where they operate — including Rio de Janeiro, Paraíba, Tocantins, and Paraná, among others.
In Rio de Janeiro alone, Hazenclever estimated that more than 65,000 jobs will be created through the new solution, which envisions the installation of 200,000 VLTs under Loterj’s supervision and oversight. “We’re not creating anything new or legalizing slot machines; we’re presenting a proven technological solution to offer the same types of products,” he explained.
Similarly, Eduardo Paiva, CEO of Lototins, praised the new technology already implemented in Tocantins. “We’re moving forward in this direction, generating income for non-dedicated points of sale such as bars and snack bars, as well as for exclusive outlets offering state-regulated products. This enables the government to expand the use of revenues to enhance social programs in Tocantins,” he stated.
Still in the process of implementing the State Lottery of Sergipe, Everton Sales, Operations Director at Lotese, said the state recently held a public hearing with the Sergipe Public Services Regulatory Agency (Agrese) to deepen understanding of the sector. “We’re seeking a model that meets state revenue needs for social programs while offering healthy entertainment to the public, aligned with international best practices,” he said.
Source: GMB
