Brazil's Senate: End bearer lottery tickets to combat money laundering
Transparency in Brazil's federal lotteries could take a drastic turn with the advancement of a new legislative proposal. Senator Bruno Bonetti has introduced Bill No. 787/2026, which seeks to oblige operators to include the name and CPF (Individual Taxpayer Registry) of the bettor on all lottery tickets, whether physical or virtual. The measure, which would apply specifically to games administered by Caixa Econômica Federal, aims for identification to be mandatory at the time of registering the bet.
Currently, lottery tickets in Brazil essentially function as a "bearer check," allowing the prize to be collected by anyone holding the physical ticket, without needing to prove they were the original purchaser. With the proposed amendment to Article 14 of Law No. 13.756/2018, prize payments would be restricted exclusively to the holder identified on the receipt or their legal successor. Senator Bonetti's objective is to curb the use of lottery prizes for money laundering and eliminate the clandestine market for winning tickets.
Legislative Convergence in Congress
This initiative in the Senate joins a similar effort in the Chamber of Deputies, where Deputy Ricardo Abrão has proposed regulations that, although with nuances, share the same essence.
- Technical Differences: While Bonetti requests name and CPF, Abrão's proposal focuses solely on CPF registration.
- Digital Traceability: The Chamber's initiative requires operators to maintain digital traceability systems for a period of at least ten years.
- Control and Privacy: These records would be available to control bodies, always complying with current personal data protection regulations.
Both projects reflect a growing concern in the Brazilian Congress to safeguard the integrity of the sector and ensure that the lottery system is not vulnerable to illicit practices, guaranteeing that the economic benefit reaches only the legitimate bettor.
Tags: Brazil, Brazil lotteries, CPF betting