The Mega da Virada 2025 draw, featuring a record R$ 1 billion prize, was delayed on Wednesday (December 31), originally set for 8 PM. Delays stemmed from a record number of bets and technical issues, according to Caixa Econômica Federal. Bets closed at 8 PM, amid virtual queues in the lottery app.
The Mega da Virada 2025 sets the highest prize in Brazilian lottery history at an estimated R$ 1 billion, 57% more than the R$ 635.4 million shared among eight winners in 2024. Initially projected at R$ 850 million, the prize was updated on December 22 due to high demand. Unlike regular draws, there is no rollover: if no one matches all six numbers, the amount is distributed to quina winners and lower tiers.
Scheduled for 8 PM in São Paulo, the draw faced delays. Caixa attributed the initial hold-up to a record number of bets, while later reports cited technical issues, sparking complaints on social media. Bettors encountered virtual queues in the Loterias Caixa app, with waits up to 37 minutes by 4:45 PM. Bet closure shifted to 8 PM Brasília time, from 6 PM in prior years, with digital pools available until 8:30 PM online.
For the first time, there will be no live broadcast on TV Globo; coverage is limited to Caixa's YouTube and Facebook channels. A simple bet costs R$ 6, while the maximum (20 numbers) is R$ 232,560. Since its 2009 inception, 130 bets have hit all six numbers, with no sole winners. Most drawn numbers include 10 (five times) and 5, 33, 36 (four times each).
Amid the buzz, a interview went viral: an elderly man, asked by Globo reporter Alexandre Henderson what he would do with R$ 1 billion, replied, “A billion reais? What madness! I'd go crazy... I'd have sex until I die,” shocking the journalist and amusing social media users.
If a single winner invests in a savings account, they would earn R$ 6.7 million in the first month, per Caixa. Results will appear post-draw on the institution's site.
