Paraguay ends lottery monopoly, opens bids for new concession
The gaming industry in Paraguay has reached an administrative milestone that redefines the rules of competition in the country. The National Gaming Commission (Conajzar) held the official opening of bids for the quiniela lottery tender last Friday, March 27, 2026. This process stands out as the first under the amended Gaming Law, regulated last year. With this action, the Paraguayan State formalizes the transition to a multi-operator model, leaving behind decades of exclusivity in one of the most deeply rooted betting modalities in popular culture.
Two business groups have formalized their interest in managing this market for the next five years. On one side is TDP SA, the company that currently operates the service and whose contract had recently been extended. On the other side, a powerful alliance formed by Daruma Sam, Caproni, and Dataforge has emerged. Although the Forte Capital Consortium —comprising significant firms such as Gambling SA and B-Gaming Vimérica— had initially shown interest in the tender documents, they ultimately decided to withdraw from the process, leaving the contest as a direct duel between the historical operator and the new block of technological allies.
The Numbers on the Table and the Award Process
Both economic proposals have adhered to the lower limit established in the Terms and Conditions (PBC). The bidders proposed a fee of 19 percent of the monthly gross revenue, complying with Conajzar's requirement to guarantee a minimum income for the treasury of 9.5 billion guaraníes (approximately 1.4 million dollars). This structure ensures that, regardless of the competition between companies, the State maintains a solid revenue base to finance social and health programs, which is the ultimate destination of these fees.
The future of the quiniela is now in the hands of an Interdisciplinary Review Committee (CRI). This team of experts has a period of ten days to meticulously evaluate the technical and financial solvency of the offers. Once the opinion is issued, a five-business-day window will open for the final award. This process is closely watched by the sector, as Law 7438/2025 allows for the coexistence of up to three approved offers, ensuring that the market does not fall under a single administrative control again.
A Partial Opening in the Betting Market
While the quiniela celebrates its opening to competition, other gaming sectors in Paraguay maintain different paces. While Public Tender N° 01/2025 marks the new direction for the lottery, the sports betting market will continue to operate under the previous regime for a while longer. The current contract with Daruma (Apostala) is valid until 2028, meaning that the entry of new players in the sports segment will have to wait until that concession expires.
This transformation, driven by the new legislation, primarily seeks to boost the sector's economy and professionalize oversight. By integrating Conajzar with the National Tax Revenue Directorate (DNIT), the level of vigilance over gross revenue reports promises to be much more rigorous than in previous periods. The outcome of this tender will not only define who manages the quiniela but will also serve as a barometer to measure the effectiveness of a regulatory framework that aims to make Paraguay a reference market for its transparency and competitive openness.
Tags: CONAJZAR / DNIT / Directorate General of Gambling - Paraguay, Paraguay Lottery, Paraguayan Betting Market