Coronavirus

Brazilian lottery partially suspended for three months

Brazil’s New Year’s Eve lottery was a statistical aberration
Brazil’s Mega-Sena lottery. Photo: Rafael Neddermeyer/FP

Public bank Caixa has suspended part of the Brazilian lottery for three months, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The “Easter Draw,” scheduled for April 11, was postponed to April 25. However, Mega Sena—the draw with the biggest prizes—will continue as previously scheduled.

Sports lottery draws are naturally not going to happen, as sports leagues around the country have halted all matches—Brazil’s volleyball league ended its 2020 season without a champion.

Brazil’s lotteries are a federal monopoly generating revenues of BRL 34 billion (USD 7.96 billion) per year.