The CONAJZAR, the primary regulatory authority for gambling in Paraguay, has awarded two national licences for the operation of the Quiniela lottery, marking a major shift in the country’s gambling framework.
The decision, approved during a session on 17 April, grants concessions to a consortium comprising Daruma SAM, Caproni and Dataforge, alongside incumbent operator Technologies Development of Paraguay.
According to the regulator, both bids met the legal, technical and financial requirements set out in Public Tender No. 01/2025. Authorities said the process was conducted in line with principles of transparency, competition and regulatory compliance.
The awards follow the enactment of Law No. 7438 in January this year, which ended Paraguay’s long-standing monopoly on lottery and sports betting operations. Under the new framework, licences can be granted to multiple operators, replacing the previous model where a single concessionaire controlled the market.
Both successful bidders committed to the minimum financial terms outlined in the tender, including a 19% fee on gross monthly revenue and a guaranteed minimum payment of PYG 9.5bn (£1.1m).
Paraguay’s broader change under Peña
The Quiniela market is estimated to generate more than £88m annually, underlining the significance of the licences and the strong competition seen during the bidding process.
The tender, launched in November 2025, forms part of a broader reform agenda led by President Santiago Peña, aimed at liberalising state-controlled sectors and introducing greater private sector participation.
As Peña and the Colorado Party previously put it: “Paraguay is no longer simply repairing a damaged system; but cautiously attempting to redesign it.”
The process narrowed to two final bidders after the withdrawal of a third consortium in March, before entering a final technical and financial evaluation phase overseen by CONAJZAR’s review committee.
The reform is expected to be followed by further regulatory changes, including a wider overhaul of gambling laws and a review of existing municipal-level arrangements.