Created 7 years ago, Caixa's app only receives 1% of Mega-Sena bets.
Account holders at Caixa Econômica Federal have been able to use the bank's mobile app to bet on the lottery since 2010. But the feature hasn't really taken off yet. Only 1% of Mega-Sena games are played through the digital platform.
The 2016 Mega da Virada lottery registered 53,6 million bets competing for a prize of over R$ 220 million, the largest amount paid out that year. Of the total bets placed, only 485.146 were registered through Caixa's Internet Banking.
A website and an app specifically for lottery betting are under development by Caixa Econômica Federal (Brazil's lottery operator). However, there is no set launch date yet. Currently, the only official app allows users to check lottery results and locate the nearest lottery outlet. Even in the digital environment, people under 18 years of age are still prohibited from playing, and the new features under development will maintain this restriction.
The Caixa Econômica Federal (Brazilian Federal Savings Bank) holds a monopoly on lotteries. A presidential decree signed in 1970 by then-President, General Emílio Garrastazu Médici, determined that only the Federal Government can operate this type of game. Caixa is the only institution authorized to organize the draws. It is responsible for accrediting lottery outlets and retailers so that they can sell the bets.
Caixa (Brazil's lottery operator) does not yet recognize any other means of placing bets online besides its own app and internet banking channel. There are no apps or websites developed by private companies for this purpose. This model differs from other countries, such as the USA, Spain, and France, which allow private companies to operate lotteries.
Intermediate service
Even with the impossibility of playing the games in person, there are digital initiatives that are trying to profit from Brazilian lotteries. The Sorte Sim app, launched in August, allows people to play games on their cell phones, without having to go to a ticket window.
The app acts as an intermediary between the bettor and the lottery outlets. According to a survey conducted by Caixa in 2016, there were 13.071 lottery outlets in 5.431 municipalities. The outlets registered on the platform receive the bet and record the games. After confirmation, a digital receipt is issued. The app also provides information about the draw dates and results.
The service costs R$ 1,25 in addition to the cost of the games. According to the company, since the bets continue to be placed through accredited establishments, there is no irregularity.
The investment in the platform was R$ 2,5 million. The expectation is that 1 million people will use the service by the end of 2018. In 3 months, 144 clients won some kind of prize, mostly in Lotofácil contests. ( Poder 360 )
