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As part of its effort to diversify revenue sources, the city of Limeira, the capital of São Paulo state, has initiated the process of examining the feasibility of establishing a municipal lottery. The process formally kicked off on June 24, 2025, upon a formal petition by City Councilman Waguinho da Santa Luzia (Progressistas). The plan is part of a statewide movement in which other cities like Campinas and Boituva previously adopted similar legislation to increase public funding without raising taxes.
Fiscal Authorities Take Legal and Benchmarking Analysis Route
The responsibility of analyzing the viability of a city lottery rested with the Municipal Fiscal Audit Sector when Limeira Secretary of Finance Valmir Barreira requested it. The sector is tasked with studying the legal scenario of the running of local lotteries and reviewing the format and success of such programs in other cities.
Barreira affirmed the project in a formal statement: “We have tasked the Municipal Fiscal Audit Sector to conduct studies that would be necessary for its implementation, consulting with legal advice as well as from municipalities already equipped with this system and their experience.”
Before the councilman’s request, there was no official evaluation conducted by the municipality. The Secretary of Finance did acknowledge the applicability of the proposal, pointing out the city’s legal obligation to find innovative sources of revenues to meet budgetary goals.
A Strategic Tool for Social Development
Councilman Waguinho da Santa Luzia has led the proposal as a way to finance social and community programs. A municipal lottery, the councilman feels, can generate direct and indirect employment, spur technological and administrative innovation in the public sector, and promote social responsibility through openly dispensing funds to deserving causes.
“Beyond the possibility of social initiatives being funded, the lottery can cause job creation, innovation in public administration, and mobilize citizens for solidarity actions“, Waguinho stated.
A Regional Blueprint
The main point of reference in the analysis of Limeira is Campinas, which launched its Municipal Lottery (Locamp) in early 2025. Regulated by a municipal decree and established by Law 478/2024, Locamp distributes proceeds across three categories: Social Assistance, Sports and Leisure, and Culture and Tourism.
The Campinas model is based on a public concession system. An authorized lottery operator is awarded through public bidding, and the municipal government is paid its share of gross revenue directly. The operator may offer a wide range of lottery products, including scratch cards and mainstream number games such as Mega-Sena, Lotofácil, and Quina, as approved by federal law.
This model represents a scalable and adaptive solution that Limeira appears keen to replicate, implementing it for the city’s particular needs and abilities.
A Revenue Strategy Without New Taxes
The city lottery concept is gaining ground in several Brazilian cities as an alternative to raising taxes. By creating a source of revenue that is self-sustaining, municipalities are in a better position to finance fundamental services and key projects. The appeal is in raising public funds through the positive act of voluntariness, as opposed to burdening the taxpayer with more.
In the case of Limeira, the bill would make the city more capable of paying for its budgetary goals, maintain community programs, and modernize its administrative operations—all while building citizen involvement and public trust through open utilization of lottery proceeds.
As the fiscal audit staff continues to review, Limeira may soon be joining more and more Brazilian cities that are turning to municipal lotteries as a new community-based source of funds. The outcome of this study would lay the groundwork for a new chapter in municipal budget planning and financing of public services in the city.
Source: BNL Data
