The Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Cade) moves to the final stage a case against Caixa Econômica Federal that investigates abusive practices in the collective betting segment, the Bolões.
The state bank detailed to investigators the revenue obtained by the Caixa Loterias division, providing fundamental financial data for calculating a possible fine for infringements of free competition.
Brazilian legislation determines that the sanction for this conduct can vary from 0.1% to 20% of the gross revenue recorded in the previous year.
The institution reported having raised 262 million net reais throughout 2024, already discounting the transfers provided by law.
Why the case against Caixa defends pool platforms
The antitrust body’s offensive began in 2025, after the bank began a movement with the aim of overturning the operation of independent sites that organize group bets.
The institution’s attacks did not find support in the courts. The São Paulo Court ordered the shelving of an investigation requested by the state-owned company, while the Federal Court also rejected a request to remove one of these virtual platforms from the air.
Cade technicians pointed to evidence that the institution’s attitudes have the capacity to generate serious anti-competitive effects, a view supported by the agency’s own superintendence.
Intermediaries guarantee legal action in the market
The business model of these platforms consists of acting as customer representatives, directing a huge flow of bettors to the official system, as games are always registered at lottery outlets.
Therefore, the Ministry of Finance concluded that digital intermediation carried out by third parties does not constitute undue exploitation of the state service.
During the investigation, the Association of Digital Intermediaries of Lottery Games (Aidiglot) reported that Caixa and the Brazilian Federation of Lottery Companies (Febralot) are trying to forcefully prevent lottery owners from establishing any commercial relationship with the sector’s technology platforms.