Caixa Econômica Federal is evaluating its entry into the online sports betting market and sees the increase in taxation of the sector from 12% to 18% as reasonable. Carlos Vieira, president of the institution, stated that the new percentage does not make the business unviable and is still lower than the tax burden faced by the public bank itself.
Based on this assessment, the institution continues with studies to launch a digital betting platform, scheduled for 2026. At the same time, Caixa is accelerating its technological modernization process and plans to invest R$9.5 billion in 2025. The institution seeks to eliminate the gap in relation to private banks.
Carlos Vieira stated: “Since 1966, Caixa has been working with bets and lotteries. We are still in the NDA [signing of a confidentiality agreement] phase, we are studying this issue of betting.
The bank’s tax rate is 48%, and in betting it will go from 12% to 18%. Last year, we collected around R$25.5 billion from lotteries, and 48% of that was taxed. Bet paying 18% is reasonable, it does not make the business unviable.”
Caixa’s new super app under development
The state-owned bank is also working on creating a super app that will integrate all of the institution’s digital services, including Caixa Tem. Development will begin in the second half of 2025 and the launch is scheduled for 2026.
Carlos Vieira explained: “We will start looking into building [a super app] in the second half of the year and hope to launch it next year. We want to have a single entry [including for Caixa Tem]. We have clearly noticed the developments in Caixa’s technology, but the big year for deliveries in terms of technology will be 2026.”
Caixa acknowledges that, historically, it has focused its efforts on physical infrastructure. Now, its strategy focuses on user experience and software development. The change seeks to increase competitiveness against private banks.
Reinforcement of the team and investments
With the goal of modernization, the bank has already hired around 1,400 IT professionals who passed the exam. The expectation is to hire 2,000 people, of which 70% have already started work.
Carlos Vieira highlighted: “We are in the process of hiring two thousand IT employees. We must have already hired around 70% of this group, and this has helped a lot with our technological changes. Last year, for the first time, we executed almost the entire budget, and this year we are talking about investing R$9.5 billion.”
Caixa will maintain the institutional model
The possibility of an initial public offering (IPO) in specific areas was ruled out. Vieira concluded: “We have a different culture within Caixa.”
