Lotep and the Civil Police intensify the fight against illegal gambling in Paraíba.

The integrated action between the Paraíba State Lottery (Lotep) and the Paraíba Civil Police has been strengthening the fight against the illegal exploitation of gambling in the State. In the last two years, about seven operations carried out in different regions of Paraíba, with the participation of Lotep, resulted in the seizure of more than 400 machines used irregularly in the exploitation of gambling.

In addition to the capital, João Pessoa, the actions carried out during this period reached the municipalities of Santa Rita, Bayeux, Mamanguape, Rio Tinto, Mataraca, Itapororoca, Guarabira, Belém, Alagoinha, Cacimba de Dentro, Mari, and Sapé, encompassing inspection, investigation, and operational action, with the support of the Military Police of Paraíba (PMPB). The most recent action occurred this week, when a Civil Police operation resulted in the arrest of seven people and the seizure of 19 gambling machines, as well as other materials related to the investigations.

The integrated action between the institutions is formalized by a cooperation agreement that establishes mechanisms for the exchange of information and joint action. The Civil Police are responsible for investigations and repression actions, while Lotep, within its legal attributions, provides technical and supervisory support, including the identification and analysis of equipment and activities related to the illegal operation of gambling.

In March of this year, for example, the Civil Police dismantled a warehouse used for the clandestine assembly and sale of gambling machines in Tibiri, Santa Rita. A total of 88 illegal machines were seized, with technical support from Lotep. According to the investigation, the equipment would later be sold to establishments interested in illegally operating gambling operations.

In December 2025, a joint operation in Santa Rita seized 17 machines, while in May of the same year, a task force in the Brejo region of Paraíba removed 36 pieces of equipment from circulation in 17 establishments in Guarabira, Belém, Alagoinha, Itapororoca, and Cacimba de Dentro. In João Pessoa, an operation carried out in February 2025 seized another nine machines.

The results demonstrate that integrated action is not limited to removing equipment from circulation, but also seeks to target structures for clandestine assembly, storage, and sale.

NOL strengthens oversight and intelligence.

This integration gained a permanent structure with the Lottery Operations Center (NOL), created by Lotep in 2024 to strengthen the oversight, monitoring, and integrity of lottery activities. The center acts as a technical link between the agency and public security bodies, bringing together oversight, data analysis, technology, and intelligence.

The structure was formalized by Protocol Term No. 0001/2025, signed between Lotep and the State Secretariat for Security and Social Defense (SESDS), through the Civil Police, and published in June 2025. Valid for 60 months, the agreement establishes technical and operational cooperation, exchange of information, data and technologies, and mechanisms for joint action.

Among the tools planned is the use of predictive analytics systems and artificial intelligence to identify financial anomalies, as well as the sharing of information to support investigations related to offenses and practices such as fraud and money laundering.

According to Lotep's superintendent, Francisco Petrônio de Oliveira Rolim, the integration expands the State's capacity to combat illegal gambling. “The Civil Police plays a fundamental role in investigating and suppressing criminal activities, while Lotep contributes with technical knowledge, oversight, and intelligence about the lottery sector. This union of competencies strengthens the State's work and allows for more precise action against those who exploit these activities clandestinely.”

Following the seizures, the equipment undergoes the necessary legal and expert procedures. The machines are stored in warehouses under the custody of the Government of the State of Paraíba, awaiting a judicial decision regarding their final destination, including possible destruction.