With the authorization for the operation of sports betting and scratch cards starting this year, the lottery market in Brazil enters a new phase, marked by digitalization and the expansion of access to this type of entertainment. These modalities, which are added to the traditional lotteries of Caixa, have significant revenue potential for the government, but also bring challenges related to financial education and risk mitigation for consumers.
Lotex, regulated by Decree 9.327/2018, will be temporarily operated by Caixa Econômica Federal until a winner of the concession process is defined. The sports betting sector has undergone a major transformation: the number of companies authorized to operate has dropped from more than 2,000 in 2023 to just 67 this year, with only 14 obtaining a definitive license, according to data from the Ministry of Finance.
For Caren Benevento, partner at Benevento Advocacia and researcher at the Contemporary Labor and Social Security Law Study Group of the University of São Paulo, the introduction of these modalities reflects the global trend of modernizing the gaming market.
“Digitalization has expanded the reach of betting and facilitated access for the population, but it has also exposed a vulnerable segment of society to the risks of indebtedness and dependency. It is essential that companies in this sector take a proactive role in educating bettors about responsible gaming,” she states.
Responsible gaming mechanisms, such as the possibility of self-limiting time and money spent, are already present on some platforms, but there is still room for improvement. According to Caren, the approach should go beyond superficial alerts.
“We need educational actions and effective technological mechanisms that allow the bettor to set the limits of the value of bets and the time they remain connected. This is not just a regulatory obligation, but a matter of social responsibility.”
With the digitalization of betting and the popularization of modalities such as scratch cards and bets, the consumer profile is changing. Research indicates that the bettor of bets is predominantly young, from the lower middle class, while consumers of traditional lotteries, such as scratch cards, are mostly older and belong to class C.
This diversity of profiles requires segmented communication and strategies that prioritize awareness and transparency in operations.
“The introduction of these modalities represents an opportunity to direct public and economic resources that were previously allocated to illegal games. However, this requires a joint commitment between government and companies so that the growth of lottery games does not cause harm to society, such as indebtedness and dependency,” concludes Caren Benevento.
Source: GMB
