Rio Grande do Norte authorizes Lottopay as first fixed-odds lottery operator, with R$ 2 million paid for licensing

The Government of Rio Grande do Norte has authorized Lottopay Tecnology Ltda. to operate fixed-odds betting through Loto Potiguar, making it the first company credentialed for this segment in the state. The approval matters for PSPs and acquirers because the license is not yet live: the operator still has to clear technical and administrative checks before taking bets.

1. The contract was published in the Diário Oficial on 1 July 2026 and has an initial term of five years, with the option to renew for another five years. So this is not a temporary pilot dressed up as a launch; it is a longer licensing window with a formal renewal path.
2. Lottopay has already paid R$ 2 million as the fixed concession fee required by the state under the credentialing rules. That is the upfront price of entry before any operational volume starts flowing.
3. Authorization does not mean immediate access for players. Lottopay still has to go through technical and administrative verification by the Secretaria de Estado da Fazenda (Sefaz), which is responsible for implementing, coordinating, and supervising Loto Potiguar. No start date has been set.
4. Among the items still under review are the electronic domains to be used, the commercial brands tied to the operation, and the game plans that will be offered. In other words: the license exists, but the product stack still has to pass the state’s checklist.
5. The initial authorization covers two lines of business: prognostics on real sports events and virtual games offered online. Under the fixed-odds model, the bettor knows the potential payout at the time of the bet, and the operator’s revenue comes from the difference between total stakes and prizes paid out, after taxes and the variable fee due to the state.

Jucielly Lima, coordinator of Loto Potiguar, said the immediate priority is to verify whether the company meets all conditions needed to put the platform into operation. She also framed the state’s role as regulating and supervising the lottery sector, with resources returning to society through investment in security, health, housing, social security, and science, technology and innovation.

One detail that matters for market structure: Lottopay is not getting exclusivity. The credentialing notice for fixed-odds betting remains open, and other companies that meet the legal, financial, and technical requirements can seek authorization to operate in Rio Grande do Norte at the same time.