One of the lucky winners of the 2022 Mega da Virada, resident of Florianópolis, had his ticket stolen the day before the draw.
According to documents and police reports, the criminal took the receipt along with other personal belongings.
The Federal Court of Santa Catarina issued, on December 4, a ruling in favor of the bettor, determining that he has the right to receive the prize.
Caixa Econômica Federal, responsible for Mega da Virada payments, said in a note that it “does not comment on ongoing legal actions”. The amount to be paid to the bettor is R$11,420.27, equivalent to the share of a 20-number jackpot that matched the Mega da Virada corner, which distributed more than R$500 million in prizes in 2022.
Magistrate Marcelo Krás Borges, who handed down the sentence, highlighted that the documents presented are sufficient to prove the winning status until the day of the theft.
He cited precedents admitting payment in similar cases, provided there is proof.
Furthermore, the judge highlighted the relevance of the action, considering that the victim of theft often suffers double losses. First, by having someone steal your belongings and then by being deprived of the legitimate prize won through the bet.
Mega da Virada prize pool estimated at R$550 million
The 2023 Mega da Virada is estimated at R$550 million. The probability of winning varies depending on the number of tens played.
For simple bets, with just six tens, the odds are 1 in 50,063,860. More complex bets, with 20 tens, have a probability of 1 in 1,292
Other Caixa lottery options
In addition to Mega da Virada, Caixa Econômica Federal lotteries offer other game options.
The list includes: +Milionária, Mega-Sena, Lotofácil, Quina, Lotomania, Timemania, Dupla Sena, Loteca, Dia de Sorte and Super Sete. Check the official website to find out how to place your bets.