Key Moments:
- Santa Catarina winners received more than R$155.9 million from Loterias Caixa in 2025
- Mega-Sena drove major payouts, including a record R$52 million prize for a Concórdia group
- Unclaimed prizes amounting to over R$250 million were directed to Brazil’s higher education loan fund as of August 2025
Extensive Lottery Wins Spread Across Santa Catarina
In 2025, Santa Catarina emerged as Brazil’s “lucky state,” with data from Loterias Caixa showing that 91 winners from 51 cities shared a combined R$155.9 million. These payouts reached communities across the region, from Itapiranga to Porto União and Praia Grande, underscoring widespread engagement in lottery gaming—even among the state’s smaller municipalities.
Mega-Sena Delivers Historic Payouts
The Mega-Sena lottery generated a substantial portion of Santa Catarina’s total winnings, distributing over half of the annual prize money. Two winning tickets from Santa Catarina split an R$77.2 million reward, with Concórdia’s six-share syndicate landing a R$52 million prize, the largest in 2025. Balneário Gaivota also made headlines, with a nine-share pool capturing R$25.2 million. These successes showcased Mega-Sena’s dominant standing among Brazil’s lottery offerings and its role in transforming residents’ lives.
| City | Lottery | Prize (R$) | No. of Shares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concórdia | Mega-Sena | 52,000,000 | 6 |
| Balneário Gaivota | Mega-Sena | 25,200,000 | 9 |
| Various Cities | Quina | 39,500,000 (combined) | 5 |
Diverse Lottery Games Produce Additional Winners
Beyond Mega-Sena, Santa Catarina residents enjoyed significant gains from other lottery games. Quina awarded R$39.5 million across five top prizes distributed in Barra Velha, Porto União, Balneário Piçarras, Taió, and Curitibanos.
The football-based Loteca lottery produced 52 winning bets spanning 31 cities, while Lotofácil paid out in 20 locations, including Florianópolis, Joinville, and Canelinha. Super Sete, Dia de Sorte, and Timemania also generated meaningful winnings in Jaraguá do Sul, Itapema, Ibiam, and Palhoça.
Apiúna saw 8 winning tickets, while Chapecó, Florianópolis, and Joinville each registered multiple victories.
Comparing with the prior period from January through September 2024, when 50 winning bets totaled R$37 million, 2025 marked a substantial uptick for both the number of winners and the overall value distributed in Santa Catarina.
Caixa Lottery Revenue Fuels Social Contributions
The influence of Loterias Caixa in Santa Catarina extends well beyond its financial rewards. Under Brazilian regulations, close to 50% of total lottery revenue is allocated to social programs nationwide. These allocations target sectors such as education, healthcare, security, sports, culture, and social security, ensuring that each wager supports public priorities.
Caixa also invests in local culture, backing initiatives such as the Bolshoi Theatre School of Joinville, the only non-Russian branch of the renowned ballet school. This type of sponsorship reflects a broader dedication to fostering educational and cultural growth throughout Santa Catarina.
Unclaimed Lottery Prizes Support Higher Education
One important element of Caixa’s operations is the management of expired prizes. If not claimed within 90 days, as mandated by Law 13.756/2018, these funds are redirected in full to the Fundo de Financiamento ao Ensino Superior (FIES), Brazil’s fund for higher education student loans. As of August 2025, more than R$250 million had already been transferred to support students nationwide.
Conclusions: Record-Breaking Winnings and Social Progress
The 2025 lottery experience in Santa Catarina highlights both financial windfalls for players and meaningful social investments. As millions are paid out and substantial sums are committed to public welfare, the impact of Loterias Caixa continues to resonate across the state and Brazil as a whole.
- Author
Daniel Williams
