More than BR4bn in unclaimed lottery prizes in Brazil have been redirected to public education funding over the past decade, according to data from Caixa.
Meanwhile, it seems like Brazil’s Federal Government is preparing to introduce additional restrictions on online betting platforms, according to Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin, as tensions between the gambling sector and retail stakeholders continue to escalate.
Between 2016 and 2025, a total of BR4.01bn in winnings went uncollected by bettors, with the full amount transferred to the Student Financing Fund (FIES), the federal program that supports higher education access.
Under current legislation, players have 90 days from the date of the draw to claim their prizes.
The data shows relatively stable levels of unclaimed prizes throughout the decade, with a notable peak in 2021, when BR587m went unredeemed, almost double the figures recorded in previous years.
How is Brazil’s Federal Government dealing with online betting?
Speaking during a meeting with leaders from major retail associations in Brasília, Alckmin indicated that new measures are under consideration to address concerns around mobile betting and its potential links to compulsive behavior.
While reaffirming that the sector has already been regulated and taxed to move it out of the informal market, he stated that “another squeeze” would be applied to curb perceived risks.
The meeting primarily focused on retail policy but highlighted the growing alignment within the sector against online betting.
Retail groups have increasingly argued that gambling platforms are contributing to reduced consumer spending and rising household debt, positioning the issue as both an economic and social concern.
This narrative, however, remains contested.
Industry representatives have challenged the claims, pointing to official data from the Ministry of Finance showing that the majority of Brazilian bettors spend relatively low amounts on gambling.
According to the figures, over half of users spend up to BR50 per month, with an average monthly ticket of approximately BR122 in 2025.
On average, BR334.4m per year has been redirected due to expired claims, according to data from Caixa
