Loterj Secures Court Order to Block Over R$20 Million from RioPag

The Rio de Janeiro State Lottery (Loterj) has secured a favorable decision from the Rio de Janeiro State Court of Justice, ordering the blocking of up to R$20.9 million from the accounts of RioPag S.A. RioPag is the company responsible for processing payments for Loterj's operations. The blocked funds are to be transferred to a judicial account. Judge Cristiana Aparecida de Souza Bonato of the 14th Public Treasury Court of the Capital granted the urgent relief, confirming the existence and Loterj's ownership of the funds. The judge also noted the public nature of the resources and found no contractual basis for RioPag's refusal to return them immediately. Loterj initiated the lawsuit to recover public funds it claims are being improperly retained by RioPag. According to court documents, RioPag acknowledged the funds but proposed returning them in installments until the contract's conclusion, a proposal rejected by Loterj. Loterj stated it had already received R$2 million on June 30, 2026, leaving the disputed balance subject to the judicial decision.