Published: March 22, 2024

Brazil: Deputies request information from Treasury about possible privatization of Caixa lotteries

Pressure against a possible transfer of the lottery area from Caixa Econômica Federal (CEF) to Loterias CAIXA continues. Two deputies from the Workers' Party (PT), President Lula's party, filed a request with the Ministry of Finance inquiring information about the change. Erika Kokay and Tadeu Veneri question the motivation, legality, socioeconomic impact with the measure and potential impact of the resources raised.

Since talk began about transferring lottery operations from Caixa Econômica Federal to a subsidiary of the state bank, pressure from corporatists and trade unionists has increased.

A member of the CEF Board of Directors representing employees of the state bank claimed that the transfer of operations to Loterias CAIXA would be the first step towards privatization. With this, the current lottery modalities and the future operation of sports betting would be transferred to the private sector.

Now, two deputies of Workers' Party, Erika Kokay and Tadeu Veneri, have filed a request with the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, requesting information about a possible transfer of lottery operations to a Caixa subsidiary.

Sergio Takemoto, president of FENAE (National Federation of Caixa Econômica Federal Staff Associations), a trade union that defends CEF employees, urged deputies to take action, claiming the “dangers of a disguised privatization, weakening Caixa’s social role”.

In the application, the two parliamentarians remember that Caixa has been managing lotteries since the 1960s and ask: “what reason to transfer federal lotteries to a subsidiary?

To try to pressure Minister Fernando Haddad, the deputies highlight that “the lotteries belong to the State, Caixa is only the Manager”. And they argue that “the current law establishes exclusive management of lotteries by Caixa”, questioning that “to change administration to another CNPJ (National Registry of Legal Entities), wouldn't it be necessary to change the law?

Parliamentarians continue to question the minister whether studies were carried out for a possible transfer, the socioeconomic impacts and possible risks for society with the reduction in social investments.

https://www.gamesbras.com/english-version/2024/3/22/deputies-request-information-from-treasury-about-possible-privatization-of-caixa-lotteries-43656.html

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