Mega-Sena lottery revenue drops 21% during Covid-19 lockdown.

Mega-Sena lottery revenue registered a 21,5% drop between March 1st and 28th of this year, compared to the same month in 2019. This period coincides with the intensification of population isolation measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
According to Caixa Econômica Federal, the Mega-Sena lottery raised R$ 276.356.628,00 in bets last month. In March 2019, the total raised was R$ 352.043.562,50.
During the isolation period, Mega-Sena also recorded the lowest prize of the year, of R$ 1 million, in contest 2.246, drawn on the 25th.
Besides Mega-Sena, draws like Lotofácil and Quina have been held normally. Only the Federal Lottery and Loteca were suspended, following restrictions to combat the pandemic. Another change was in the date of the Easter Double draw, which was moved from April 11th to April 25th.
In many cities, lottery outlets have had to close. In others, like São Paulo, they are considered an essential service and can operate during the quarantine. Lottery players have the option of placing their bets through the Caixa lottery website.
Accumulated prize
Caixa (the Brazilian lottery operator) states that it is important to consider the fact that Mega-Sena had two accumulated jackpot draws in March 2019, a situation that did not occur during the same period this year.
"It's important to highlight that the increase in revenue is directly related to the large prizes offered. Thus, as the draws accumulate, that is, when there is no winner in the main prize category, the prize money reserved for that category is automatically added to the main prize category of the next draw. And this causes the main prize to grow gradually, because it is these high prizes that attract more and more bettors," Caixa explains in a statement.Ana Vinhas, from R7)