Colombia relaunches Chiquinquirá lottery after 22-year hiatus

Colombia's gambling regulator Coljuegos has announced the return of the Lotería de la Villa Republicana de Chiquinquirá after a 22-year absence, with a special draw in partnership with the Sorteo Extraordinario de Colombia. 

The draw, scheduled for September 19, will offer total prizes of more than COP$36.7bn ($11.3m).

The approved prize plan includes a top prize of COP$15bn, with tickets priced at COP$20,000 and sold nationwide.

Marco Emilio Hincapié, President of Coljuegos, said: "We expect ticket sales of approximately COP3bn for the draw. In addition, we estimate that more than COP360m will be raised to support healthcare services in the municipality of Chiquinquirá."

Hincapié said the relaunch resulted from joint work between the lottery sector and the Consejo Nacional de Juegos de Suerte y Azar, a body tasked with strengthening the industry in Colombia's regions.

He also linked the draw to the cultural significance of the Virgin of Chiquinquirá, Colombia's patroness. He added: "This important draw will hold a special place not only in the hearts of the people of Chiquinquirá and the department of Boyacá, but also of all Colombians, because the Virgin of Chiquinquirá is the patron saint of Colombia."

Hincapié noted that President Gustavo Petro signed a law that designated July 9 a national holiday marking the date the Virgin of Chiquinquirá was proclaimed the country's patroness by Pope Pius VII in 1829.

The Coljuegos president also reiterated that lottery tickets should be purchased only through authorized points of sale.

The announcement comes weeks after Coljuegos received a positive assessment from Colombia's Contraloría General de la República for its 2024 and 2025 operations. The audit praised the regulator's financial management and transparency, while the agency reported that revenue transferred to the country's health system increased during the audited years.