Colombia is strengthening its position as a leading regulated gaming market in Latin America with the launch of Keno on April 1, 2026, a state-backed product that combines high-frequency gameplay, nationwide distribution and blockchain technology, reinforcing the country’s innovation edge in the sector.
The market context is decisive: Colombia’s gaming industry already generates over COP 1.1 trillion in direct contributions to the national budget annually and exceeds COP 1.3 trillion in VAT from online betting alone, while territorial games (chance, lottery and scratch cards) contributed COP 649.465 billion in 2025. This scale places Colombia among the most structured and fiscally relevant gaming markets in the region.
Keno enters as a “novel game” under Law 643 of 2001, Decree 2121 of 2004 and Agreement 07 of 2024 amended by Agreement 03 of 2025, distinguishing itself from traditional lotteries and chance: it does not rely on periodic draws but operates continuously with high-frequency outcomes.
The mechanics are simple and scalable: players select 10 numbers from 1 to 80, while the system draws 20 random numbers, with payouts based on matches. The game runs every 6 to 10 minutes, enabling 144 to 240 draws per day, with wagers ranging from COP 500 to COP 20,000 and jackpots of up to COP 2.4 billion.
Its reach is national: more than 26,000 terminals across all 32 departments, operated by four regional concessionaires, integrating both retail and digital channels.
The real breakthrough is technological. Keno is among the first games in Latin America to use blockchain for ticket issuance, introducing traceability, security and verifiable records, aimed at reducing fraud and increasing player confidence.
Projected figures highlight its relevance: expected sales exceed COP 2.3 trillion over five years, with contributions close to COP 500 billion to the national budget.
The impact is structural. Colombia is not only expanding its portfolio—it is introducing a hybrid model between digital lottery and real-time gaming that could reshape consumer behavior in the region. Keno does not replace lottery or chance, but competes directly through frequency, accessibility and scale.
The signal is clear: Colombia is not following the market—it is leading it. Gaming is evolving beyond entertainment into a fiscal, technological and regulated growth engine across Latin America.
