The government of the state of Maranhão, Carlos Brandão (PSB) celebrated the authorization granted by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) and the State Court of Auditors (TCE) for the start of activities of the Maranhão Lottery, Lotema.
According to the governor, Lotema will be a relevant tool aimed at financing numerous programs that are essential for state development. The information was provided by journalist and broadcaster Zeca Soares.
“The STJ and TCE authorized the start of activities for the Maranhão Lottery (Lotema), which will generate funds through the public lottery service to finance important projects for the state. Our Government of Maranhão will be the regulatory agent of the service, through Mapa Parcerias”, declared Governor Carlos Brandão.
However, Brandão did not mention a deadline for Lotema to start operating or details on how the new game modality works in the state.
Lottery History
The Lottery of the State of Maranhão was created in 1956, through Law 1445. From then on, the service was marked by stoppages and resumptions. With Law 2,327, of November 17, 1963, the lottery resumed operations.
On November 12, 1985, Law 4681 again forced the suspension of work. The return occurred five years later, with Law 5,033. In 1991, the Maranhão State Lottery was definitively extinguished, due to Law 5.202, of October 7, 1991.
The provision of the service was reestablished only in 2002, having been instituted by Art. 14 of Law 7734 and regulated by Decree 18899, of August 13, 2002. However, Lotema operated for five years.
Understanding that the state measures disrespected the exclusive competence of the Union, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) determined the unconstitutionality of Art. 14 of Law 7,734, ending the possibility of Maranhão to explore the lottery modality in 2007.
The situation was reversed by the STF itself. According to the Supreme Court’s understanding, the exploitation of lottery services is not exclusive to the Union and states can re-establish their lotteries.
