Sao Paulo’s Legislative Assembly has approved Bill 359-21, which authorises the government to create a state lottery.
According to GMB, the creation of the Sao Paulo State Lottery was approved by 53 votes to 20. The project also approves national and international loans to finance works, mobility, housing, and health, among other public services.
The proposal, which totals R$5bn (US$1bn), must now be approved by the Executive.
Governor João Dória commented: “As a way to expand the sources of financing for important social policies, not always met by the existing legal bindings and destinations, designed to support people or families in a situation of social vulnerability or who are already at personal or social risk, in what is conventionally called social protection policies, the Budget and Management Projects Secretariat proposes that authorization be also requested to establish the Sao Paulo State Lottery.”
The Sao Paulo Lottery’s main goal will be to increase the fund sources for actions in the social area, as determined by federal legislation and as provided for in article 14 of Bill 359-21.
Article 14 states: “The Executive Branch is authorized to establish and exploit, pursuant to article 175 of the Constitution of the Republic, the Sao Paulo State Lottery, using the net result obtained to fund actions aimed at social assistance and the reduction of vulnerability in the State of Sao Paulo.”
Last October, the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil allowed state lotteries to be created after it unanimously decided that the Union doesn’t have the exclusivity to operate lottery games.
Each Brazilian state can create and operate lottery games, as long as they comply with federal regulations.
Once the project is approved by Governor Dória, models for the exploration of the Sao Paulo lottery’s modalities will be determined.