National Lotteries: Baloto, "lotto departments" (Colombia)

Important: Colombia does not have a single "Lotería Nacional"

The country does not have one "National Lottery" in the sense of a single brand. According to Law 643/2001, the operation of traditional lotteries (de billetes) is the prerogative of the departments and the capital district of Bogota (they conduct regular and "extraordinary" circulations according to the approved calendar). National regulator Coljuegos coordinates policy and publishes the draw calendar.

Baloto: national "online lotto" (juego novedoso)

What is that. Baloto is an innovative online lottery of the loto en línea format overseen by Coljuegos; the ticket is bought at points of sale and online. The operator's website describes the basic mechanics and prices for the bet.

Operator and legal status. Since May 25, 2022, Baloto has been operated for a five-year period by Operador Nacional de Juegos S.A.S. (ONJ) under a concession agreement with Coljuegos.

Circulations and schedule. According to the current Acuerdo 02 (2025) Coljuegos, two official draws per week have been set for Baloto and Revancha - on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

New mechanics. In 2024, Coljuegos approved the second additional Baloto mechanics - Colorloto (drawing of colored balloons), launched no later than the second half of 2024, to increase engagement and fees in favor of health care.

Relevance and winnings. Regional media regularly cover Baloto and Revancha wins in 2025 (including jackpots and large payouts), confirming the stable performance of the product and the interest of players.

Traditional lotteries ("de billetes"): how it works

Who releases. Paper/classical lotteries - departmental responsibility (and Bogotá) as "arbitrio rentitico"; they schedule regular and special runs on an agreed schedule (CNJSA/Coljuegos publish and update this calendar).

Calendar. On the Coljuegos portal and the lotteries themselves, official schedules for the year are available (for example, the Bogota Lottery calendar for 2025; for 2024, CNJSA approved 32 "extraordinary" circulation in the country).

Where to watch the results. Broadcasts are broadcast on TV and in social networks of a specific lottery (for example, the channels of the Bogotá Lottery), and the summary results are published by regional media and aggregators. Always check with official lottery/Coljuegos pages.

Baloto vs. "departmental" lotteries - what's the difference

Legal nature. Baloto - "juego novedoso" under the direct coordination of Coljuegos and the federal concession; traditional lotteries - departmental competence/Bogotá under Law 643/2001.

Draw format. Baloto/Revancha - two weekly circulation sessions with uniform rules for the country; departmental lotteries have different days/hours and their own prize plans.

Innovation. Baloto regularly receives mechanic updates (example - Colorloto); in traditional lotteries, innovations are expressed in "extraordinary" circulations and special draws.

Where and how to play legally

1. Buying Baloto tickets - online on baloto. com and offline points of sale; Specify numbers/combinations according to the rules.

2. Traditional lotteries - purchasing tickets from official distributors of a specific lottery (Bogotá, Boyacá, Tolima, etc.) and checking draws according to their calendar/channels.

3. Check status - always focus on Coljuegos (game types sections, calendar, acts/chords) to avoid illegal offers.

Responsible play and taxes (brief)

All draws are held within the framework of regulations and agreements with Coljuegos; part of the income goes to the health care system.

Winnings are taxable under statewide rules; The media regularly remind about the deductions for large Baloto jackpots. Please check the current rates and thresholds before making a payment.

In the Colombian system of "national" lotteries, Baloto is a country-wide online lotto with two weekly circulations and updated mechanics, and the role of "Lotería Nacional" in the everyday sense is played by traditional department lotteries conducted by Bogota and departments according to the approved calendar. Play only on official channels (baloto. com, specific lottery pages and Coljuegos publications) - this is how you follow the law and protect your rights.