Contract signing and concession details
Last Friday, January 2, the concession contract for public lottery services in the State of São Paulo was signed between the state government and the Consórcio SP Loterias SPE SA. This milestone represents the conclusion of a competitive and complex process for the administration of lotteries in the state. The contract, which will last 15 years, was signed by Rafael Antônio Cren Benini, Secretary of Investment Partnerships, and Daniel Antonio Narzetti, President Director of the Public Services Regulatory Agency of the State of São Paulo (ARSESP). For the consortium, the signing was carried out by Antonio Carlos Gonçalves, General Manager of Brightstar Lottery, who leads the consortium in partnership with Scientific Games.
The contract covers a variety of lottery modalities, including specific prediction, sports, numeric, instant and passive lotteries. Furthermore, the consortium will have the opportunity to explore ancillary revenues, such as advertising and financial products. The initial grant amount was paid by the consortium on December 31st, with the credit being made to the State of São Paulo on January 2nd.
Bidding process and twists
The concession of lottery services in São Paulo has been a disputed process since its beginning in October 2024. Two consortia participated: the Consórcio Aposta Vencedora, formed by SAV Participações and AX4B Sistemas de Informática, and the Consórcio SP Loterias, composed of Brightstar Lottery and Scientific Games. The notice, published by the Secretariat of Partnerships and Investments (SPI) in June 2024, provided for a 15-year contract with a total investment of R$333 million.
The selection criteria was based on the highest initial grant value, with a minimum established at R$260.7 million. In the auction held in November 2024, Consórcio Aposta Vencedora initially won by offering R$600 million, a premium of 130.15% over the minimum value. However, in May 2025, the consortium was disqualified for failing to pay the grant, paving the way for the SP Loterias Consortium, which had offered R$526.5 million.
Judicial and administrative challenges
After the disqualification of Consórcio Aposta Vencedora, a series of judicial and administrative challenges emerged. The disqualified group tried to reverse the decision through administrative and judicial appeals, but was unsuccessful. In September 2025, Consórcio Aposta Vencedora filed a complaint with the Court of Auditors of the State of São Paulo (TCE-SP), questioning the qualification of Consórcio SP Loterias and pointing out irregularities, such as the presentation of a guarantee insurance policy with liability exclusions not provided for in the notice.
The TCE-SP, in response, temporarily suspended administrative acts related to the concession, requesting justifications from the Secretariat of Partnerships and Investments. However, after analysis and justification, the process continued, culminating in the signing of the contract with Consórcio SP Loterias.
Aspects of the concession contract
The signed contract is extensive, with 90 pages, and details the responsibilities and rights of the concessionaire. Among the main points, the consortium’s obligation to create 31 physical sales points and meet quality indicators stands out. The pricing policy, marketing strategy and design of lottery services will be flexible, as long as they respect established standards.
The contract’s remuneration structure includes a fixed grant of R$563.4 million, to be amortized over 15 years, and a variable grant of 35% of gross operating revenue. The concessionaire must also pay 1.5% of this revenue to ARSESP as an inspection fee. Furthermore, the concessionaire can explore ancillary revenues, passing on 10% to the granting authority.
Implications and future expectations
With the signing of the contract, the SP Loterias Consortium assumes a crucial role in the administration of São Paulo’s lotteries, bringing expectations of modernization and efficiency to the sector. The operation must begin after authorization from ARSESP or automatically on the first day of the seventh month after signing the contract.
This contract is an example of how the partnership between the public and private sector can be structured to promote investment and improvements in public services, while maintaining strong regulatory control. The success of this concession can serve as a model for other similar initiatives in Brazil.
The partnership between the public and private sector can be structured to promote investment and improvements in public services, while maintaining strong regulatory control.
Source: bnldata.com.br
Fonte: Gaming365 – Brasil
