New President confirmed for Rio de Janeiro State Lottery

Cláudio Castro, the Governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro, has replaced the president of the state lottery, the LOTERJ.

As reported by SBC Notícias Brasil, the former LOTERJ President Hazenclever Lopes Cançado has been replaced by Fabíola Esteves, formerly the Vice President of the state lottery, as confirmed by the state’s Official Gazette on 20 March.

“Assuming the presidency of LOTERJ is an honor and a great responsibility,” Esteves said, commenting exclusively to SBC Noticias Brasil.

“Since 2023, as vice-president, I have closely followed an important transformation of the agency, marked by innovation, responsibility, and public commitment. 

“Working alongside Hazenclever has been a very enriching experience. His vision and leadership were fundamental in positioning LOTERJ as a national benchmark in the sector.”

The leadership transition at the LOTERJ comes amid a transformative time for both the Brazilian lottery space and the wider gambling sector, 15 months on from the launch of the regulated betting market in January 2025.

The market has, as expected, exploded and become one of the most valuable in the world. It has also caught a lot of political attention, however, with President Lula da Silva – who oversaw the 1 January launch of the market last year – becoming increasingly frustrated.

Taxes are going up on betting, with the rate on gross gaming revenues (GGR) set to rise from 12% to 18% by 2027. Frustrations are also being raised around consumer protection and the extent of advertising.

For the lottery space specifically, a specific challenge is municipal lotteries, which number in the thousands. The jurisdiction of municipal lotteries often overlap with those of state lotteries like that of Rio de Janeiro.

“I take on this new challenge with a commitment to continue this work, strengthening regulation, combating illegality, and expanding the social impact of our actions,” Esteves added.

“We will continue to move forward with seriousness, transparency, and a focus on generating value for society.”

https://lotterydaily.com/2026/03/24/retail/new-preident-rio-de-janeiro/