Breaking the rules? Brazilian state prepares lottery operations to early 2026

Rio Grande do Norte's State Lottery is expected to begin operating in the first half of 2026, according to the state's Secretariat of Finance (SEFAZ).

The authority confirmed that it will publish the accreditation notice for private operators by the end of December, following the guidelines of Portaria 1.306, released earlier this month.

The regulation outlines the conditions, procedures and policies for the exploitation of fixed-odds betting, which will be the first method implemented.

While SEFAZ has not provided a specific date for the release of the notice, it stated that internal procedural deadlines "do not solely depend on the agency."

The state maintains its earlier projection of launching the process by the end of 2025. For 2026, the government expects BR25m in revenue, supported by an initial investment of BR3m. SEFAZ said it is "currently investing in legal consultancies to assist in the modelling of the lottery."

Administrative ordinance No 1.306 allows commercial operations to happen to private companies via permission contracts and accreditation.

The ordinance also defines the payment of bets as the primary revenue stream for operators, with other income sources allowed upon prior approval from SEFAZ.

The agency will oversee all monitoring, auditing and enforcement related to the service.

Responsible gambling provisions are also mandatory, including self-exclusion tools, educational campaigns and the prohibition of underage participation.

The decree also establishes a State Lottery Fund, which will receive unclaimed prizes after 90 days.

Although the announcement comes shortly after the Supreme Federal Court suspended all municipal lotteries, the measure does not affect state-operated services such as the Rio Grande do Norte Lottery, so no, they're not breaking the rules.

However, because operations are regulated at the federal level, the model will still need to align with the Ministry of Finance's national framework to avoid future regulatory conflicts.