Lotería de Bogotá: draw times, prizes and how to play
Lotería de Bogotá is one of Colombia's best-known traditional lotteries. It is run by the Empresa de Lotería de Bogotá, a public company owned by the Capital District, and its surplus is allocated by law to the health sector, as with every traditional lottery in the country.
When does Lotería de Bogotá draw?
The draw takes place every Thursday at 10:30 PM (Colombian time). It sits in a busy weekly calendar shared with the other traditional lotteries: Lotería de Cundinamarca on Mondays, Lotería de la Cruz Roja on Tuesdays, Lotería de Manizales on Wednesdays, Lotería de Santander on Fridays and Lotería de Medellín on Saturdays.
How to play: the ticket format
Lotería de Bogotá uses the classic Colombian traditional format: a four-digit number plus a series. The full ticket is split into fractions, so players can buy a share of the ticket and collect the proportional part of any prize.
- Number: four digits.
- Series: identifies the ticket within the draw's issue.
- Fractions: allow a smaller stake; prizes are paid pro rata to the fractions held.
To win the jackpot you must match the four-digit number and the series. Matching only the number, or matching digits in a specific order, falls under the secondary categories of the prize plan in force.
Prize plan and secondary prizes
Beyond the jackpot, the prize plan includes fixed "seco" prizes drawn alongside the main one, plus approximations for partial matches of the number or the series. The plan is published for each issue and can change between draws, so it is worth checking the back of the ticket or the official website before playing.
Where to buy and how to check results
Tickets are sold through authorised points of sale nationwide — accredited street vendors, stationery shops and retailers working with official distributors — and through licensed digital platforms. Results are broadcast live on Thursday night and published straight afterwards on the official Lotería de Bogotá website, as well as through Colombia's health superintendency and Coljuegos, the national gambling regulator.
A practical tip: keep the physical ticket intact. Claiming a prize requires the original ticket in good condition plus photo ID, and winnings are subject to Colombian withholding taxes.
Why it matters beyond the prize
Colombian traditional lotteries are a funding instrument for the health system: a share of sales and of unclaimed prizes is transferred to the sector. That is why they retain strong institutional backing despite the growth of regulated online betting in the country.
If you play, do it in moderation and only with money you can allocate to entertainment. Responsible gambling information and helplines for Colombia are available in our gambling assistance section.
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