NeoGames has announced that it will launch LotoMinas – the first online lottery and sports betting system for the official Loteria Mineira of the Brazilian state Minas Gerais.
NeoGames will enter the Brazilian lottery market through the multi-year turnkey deal, first announced by the State Lottery Operator in June.
NeoGames is launching its first major scheme, led by subsidiaries Aspire Global and BtoBet. The business purchased these companies last year.
NeoGames’ CEO Moti Mlul stated that the company was “excited to” launch on the Brazilian market, and partner with Intralot do Brasil who is better acquainted with the Brazilian market than Israel-based provider.
He said: “We will work together to provide Minas Gerais online sports betting and lottery players with an exceptional online gaming experience.”
This deal shows how we are leveraging the BtoBet online sports betting system and Aspire Global’s managed services.
Digital Solution
The two companies have created a digital solution for Minas Gerais that will build on the existing state retail lottery. NeoGames, as part of the effort to implement a cloud-based local solution in Brazil through its NeoSphere platform, has already implemented this.
BtoBet has created a comprehensive online sports betting system that includes Aspire’s customer relationship management, sports risk management software and BtoBet’s suite of localized games.
As a pioneer of the Brazilian lottery industry, the partnership between Saga Business Games Intelligence, Intralot do Brasil and NeoGames is a perfect fit.
The expansion plan of new state and federal licenses includes the new instant-games and sports betting modalities, as well as investments in new technology. This collaboration will help the lottery grow.
Regulation of the market
This news follows on from last week’s report that the new federal government could be putting in place federal legalization of sports betting.
A Brazilian sports blogger reported that the Ministry of Justice will send a proposal for the regulation of sports betting to the Government. This could be a step towards authorising this activity, after the hopes of the outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro in December seemed to have been dashed when he refused to approve the final regulations.
In September 2020, the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF), which is the highest court in the country, declared that it does not possess the constitutional authority to prohibit the government from operating lottery games.
After this decision was made, the 26 state governments of India were allowed to promote and organise their own lottery without any interference by central government.
