Coljuegos says no presidential campaign in Colombia has requested or received authorisation to run raffles or promotional games for fundraising purposes
Coljuegos has issued a direct warning to presidential campaigns in Colombia, stating that any raffle or promotional gaming activity carried out without prior authorisation from the regulator will be treated as illegal and may trigger investigations and sanctions. The clarification comes as the regulator seeks to prevent the improper use of games of chance in the electoral context.
According to the official statement published on 17 April 2026, no political campaign or presidential candidate has filed an application with Coljuegos or received approval to organise raffles or promotional gaming activities for campaign financing.
Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos, said: “We want to be clear with citizens and with those aspiring to the highest office in the Nation: raffles and promotional games in Colombia are regulated and form part of the monopoly that generates revenue for the health of Colombians.”
He added that compliance with legal requirements is mandatory in order to guarantee transparency and legality in the operation of games of chance, and stressed that no campaign has submitted an application for this type of activity.
The regulator also reminded the public that, under Colombia’s current legal framework, it is strictly prohibited for the prize in a raffle or promotional game to be cash, except in specific cases provided for by law, and those exceptions do not include the promotion or financing of political campaigns.
Marco Emilio Hincapié said: “We call on citizens not to participate in draws that do not display the entity’s logo and the corresponding authorisation resolution number. We also emphasise that the irregular use of games of chance will not be allowed in electoral contexts.”
Coljuegos also indicated that campaigns or candidates wishing to organise a raffle or promotional activity must approach the entity and request the corresponding authorisation in advance, with the regulator stating it is available to provide guidance and process applications where appropriate.
The statement has gained additional visibility following media coverage tied to a controversial campaign raffle involving presidential hopeful Santiago Botero, which prompted several Colombian outlets to highlight Coljuegos’ position that no candidate currently holds authorisation for such activity.
