Paraná Launches Public Consultation on State Lottery Regulation in Brazil

Significant changes are coming to the gambling market in Brazil, specifically within the state of Paraná. The Paraná Regulatory Agency for Delegated Public Services, known as Agepar, has initiated a crucial phase in shaping future lottery rules. On October 6, 2026, the agency's board voted to approve a public consultation and a public hearing. This represents a decisive step toward creating a legal framework that is reliable and safe for both operators and players. The consultation period runs from October 9 to November 7, 2026, followed by a hearing on November 10.

The objective of this initiative is to precisely define responsibilities within the sector. The focus lies on the interaction between Agepar and the state lottery, Lottopar. While Lottopar is responsible for accrediting companies, Agepar takes on the overarching control. This was made possible by State Complementary Law No. 278/2025. The aim is to move away from general public service rules toward highly specialized standards for the lottery industry. This is intended not only to organize the market but primarily to strengthen the protection of end consumers, who are viewed as users of public services in this context.

Numbers and facts

The schedule for this project is tightly packed. The public hearing on November 10, 2026, is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Participants wishing to make a formal statement must register in advance on the corresponding Agepar website. Particularly important for all involved companies: once the final resolution takes effect, the agency will grant a 90-day compliance period. This timeframe is intended to allow Lottopar and private operators to adjust their systems and processes to the new standards.

A key component of the new regulation is transparency. Anonymous submissions during the consultation phase will not be accepted by Agepar. Anyone wishing to participate must disclose their identity. This underscores the serious approach the state is taking to create a stable and legally secure environment for gambling. The draft is based, among other things, on the previous Subsidy Consultation No. 002/2025 and a comprehensive regulatory impact analysis.

Background

The process in Paraná is part of a larger upheaval in Brazil. For a long time, the state-owned bank Caixa Econômica Federal (CEF) held a monopoly on lottery services. However, the tide is turning. The Chamber of Deputies has already voted on Bill 1561/20, which proposes the creation of specific Health and Tourism lotteries. In this model, 95 percent of revenue after prizes would go to the operator, while 5 percent is earmarked for the National Health Fund (FNS) or the tourism agency Embratur.

„The draft defines, in general terms, what falls under Agepar’s responsibility and what falls under Lottopar’s, while strengthening the protection of bettors, who are users of the service. We now want to hear from operators and bettors before finalizing the text." - Isaac Coelho, Coordinator of the Intersectoral Working Group on Lottery Services (GTI – Loterias) at Agepar

The development in Paraná shows that individual Brazilian states are increasingly taking the initiative to regulate local markets and tap into revenue sources. The focus remains on the conflict between state control and opening up to the private sector. Agepar is attempting to find a middle ground that considers both economic interests and player protection.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, the developments in Brazil have no direct impact on their daily lives but serve as an interesting case study for the global wave of regulation. While Paraná is currently developing specific rules, Germany has already come a long way with the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). Anyone wishing to play safely in Germany should exclusively use platforms listed on the official whitelist of the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL). These licenses guarantee compliance with strict German laws.

In Germany, tough limits apply to protect players, measures that are often still being discussed in Brazil in this form. These include the monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros across all providers, monitored by the LUGAS system, and the maximum stake limit of 1 euro per spin for online slots. Such measures serve addiction prevention and are a core part of German regulation. Brazilian states like Paraná are closely observing such models worldwide to establish their own protection mechanisms.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

GGL-licensed casinos can view the developments in South America as confirmation of a growing global trend toward legal regulation. A regulated market, as is now being finalized in Paraná, provides legal certainty. For providers with a German license, the quality of regulation remains the most important selling point. While black market providers often advertise with licenses from Curacao or Malta, which have no validity in Germany, GGL casinos offer connection to the OASIS player blocking system and guaranteed payouts. The transparency that Agepar is now demanding in Brazil has long been standard in Germany due to strict reporting requirements to the authorities.