Rio de Janeiro’s state lottery, LOTERJ, said it expects to publish rules for video lottery terminals soon, with the regulations in their final phase. LOTERJ also met WA.Technology executives to discuss technology for monitoring and controlling the machines; no formal partnership was announced.
The forthcoming rules will set operating requirements for video lottery terminals in Rio de Janeiro.
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Diamond Poker Club opened in João Pessoa on 15 January with poker tables and more than 110 video lottery terminals, the company said. The terminals were licensed and authorised by the Paraíba State Lottery, LOTEP; the opening also included a poker tournament with more than 150 players.
Rio de Janeiro State Lottery (LOTERJ) says it is using lottery regulation to support public policies, consumer protection and responsible gambling in the state. President Fabíola Esteves said tackling illegal operations requires coordinated action among state and federal authorities, courts, police, financial institutions, digital platforms and consumer protection agencies.
Rio de Janeiro state and municipal decrees issued in August set conflicting rules for video lottery terminals: the state established requirements for lottery equipment, while the city barred permits for venues using it. A legal opinion commissioned by ANALOME argues that a blanket municipal bar may exceed the city’s authority and recommends that permit refusals be properly justified.
It was reported that Rio governor Ricardo Couto de Castro defended the state’s lottery decree before TJRJ. He argued that it complies with the STF’s decision and regulates existing lottery operations rather than establishing a new gambling category.
Rio de Janeiro’s acting governor, Ricardo Couto de Castro, asked the state court to reject a challenge to a decree allowing lottery products through video lottery terminals, betting kiosks and Smart POS devices. The Public Prosecutor’s Office argues that the decree exceeds state powers and violates constitutional principles; Couto said it regulates existing lottery formats rather than creating a new form of gambling. The court has yet to rule on the challenge.