The government of Minas Gerais has appointed Luciano França da Silveira Júnior as the new Director-General of the Minas Gerais State Lottery (LEMG).
The appointment was published in the state’s Official Gazette.
França replaces Onésimo Diniz Moreira, who stepped down from the position at his own request.
The state Government also announced the appointment of Vanderlei Daniel da Silva, a career auditor at the Minas Gerais State Comptroller General’s Office (CGE), as Deputy Director-General of the lottery.
França previously served as General Inspector of the Minas Gerais Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPMG) between 2019 and 2021. Following his retirement from the institution, he has continued working in private legal practice.
The leadership change comes at a significant moment for the state lottery sector in Minas Gerais. Last month, the MPMG opened a civil inquiry into the bidding process for the Minas Gerais State Lottery following allegations of irregularities linked to a concession contract estimated at BR15.4bn ($3bn) over a 25-year period.
The investigation was launched after a complaint filed by the Association of Gaming and Lottery Operators of Minas Gerais, which alleged administrative misconduct, potential damage to public funds and irregularities related to International Public Tender LEMG No. 001/2026.
No connection between the inquiry and the leadership appointments was mentioned in the state government’s announcement.
LEMG operates as one of Brazil’s state-run lottery bodies and is part of the expansion of state-level gaming and lottery activity that has taken place across the country in recent years.
Founded in August 1923, the Minas Gerais State Lottery is the oldest state lottery in Brazil
