The Public Lottery Service of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) is expected to begin operating in the first half of 2026. The RN State Finance Secretariat (Sefaz) confirms this forecast after the measure was sanctioned.
The department will release the call for bids for the accreditation of exploration companies by the end of this month. According to the Secretariat, this action is based on Ordinance No. 1,306.
The State Official Gazette published the aforementioned decree in early December. The document outlines the conditions, procedures, and policies for operating fixed-odds betting (AQF), commonly known as bets. The state lottery will implement AQF as its first modality.
When will the Rio Grande do Norte Lottery announcement be released?
The Finance Department (Sefaz) did not specify an exact date for the release of the accreditation notice: “there are deadlines in the ongoing process that do not depend on the department.”
However, the Secretariat maintains its previous projection of launching the tender by the end of 2025. The government estimates it will raise R$ 25 million next year with the service in operation. The initial investment totals R$ 3 million.
The tax authority, Sefaz, stated: “For now, we are investing in legal consulting to assist in the structuring of the lottery.”
Rules for operating the service
According to Ordinance 1,306, the State Finance Department (Sefaz) will delegate the commercial operation of lotteries to the private sector through a permit and accreditation contract. Legal entities with activities compatible with the operation of fixed-odds betting may participate individually or in consortium.
Interested parties must meet the requirements of the future call for proposals. Furthermore, legislation allows the participation of a Brazilian legal entity that is a subsidiary of a foreign company headquartered in Brazil. This permission requires the presence of a Brazilian partner holding at least 20% of the share capital.
The decree establishes that lottery operator revenue is the primary source of income for lottery operators. The text notes that “the exploration of other sources is permitted,” subject to prior approval from the State Finance Department (Sefaz). This department is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the service.
Legislation and types of betting
The government sanctioned the Rio Grande do Norte State Lottery (Law 12.217/2025) in June and regulated it in September through Decree No. 34.840/2025. The regulation established rules for accreditation, operation, and oversight of the service. Likewise, the text defines standards for financial contributions from accredited companies via fixed and variable grants.
The model follows the parameters of federal legislation and includes numerical contests, sports predictions, and fixed-odds betting. The decree provides for the offering of products through physical and digital channels. Therefore, bettors can purchase printed tickets or use online platforms.
Allocation of resources and state fund
The measure establishes the creation of a State Lottery Fund to receive unclaimed prize money after 90 days. Physical or virtual bets require registration only through authorized channels.
Therefore, operators cannot grant advance credits or bonuses to bettors. There are specific restrictions on the participation of athletes, sports officials, and officials linked to oversight.
The State Government intends to allocate part of the lottery revenue to social areas such as health, education, and security. Furthermore, the measure creates a new source of non-tax revenue.
Finally, the operation will take place under a free competition regime. The objective involves promoting player satisfaction and ensuring the quality of services offered.
