Promotions and offers
A promotion is a temporary offer of products on special favourable terms, or free of charge, as an incentive (Ley 1480 de 2011, art. 5).
Its terms bind whoever runs it. The time, manner, place and any requirement to get it must be in the advertising (art. 33).
Without a start date it applies from the moment it is made public. Without an end date or a stock limit, it stays in force until you withdraw it by the same means and with the same reach you used to announce it.
When the promotion is limited, say so: "hasta agotar existencias" with the number of units.
Source: Ley 1480 de 2011, Estatuto del Consumidor (Secretaría del Senado)
Discounts, "pay X take Y" and gifts
What an ad says binds the advertiser, and misleading advertising is prohibited (Ley 1480 de 2011, arts. 29 and 30).
A discount must be true: keep proof of the regular price you discount from, and give the percentage or both prices.
"Pay 2, take 3" is clear when it names the product and the quantities.
A gift that needs a purchase is not "free": say which purchase earns it wherever it is announced.
Source: Ley 1480 de 2011, Estatuto del Consumidor (Secretaría del Senado)
Raffles and draws: authorisation
A raffle or draw organised to advertise or promote goods, services or a business, with a prize for the public, is a promotional game of chance (Ley 643 de 2001, art. 31). It needs authorisation from Coljuegos, or from the departmental company (SCPD) where it applies.
The request carries the full terms, the prize plan with its value and its technical and economic justification, the place and calendar, the payment of the fees on the total value of the prizes and a compliance guarantee for that value lasting the whole game and two more months (Decreto 1068 de 2015, art. 2.7.4.3, as amended by Decreto 2104 de 2016).
The authority answers within 15 days of the request, and the game may only start and be advertised once the authorisation is final; it lasts at most one year (art. 2.7.4.5). The app suggests asking 15 business days before the start.
Prizes are delivered within 30 calendar days of the draw. The draw and the delivery are recorded in writing and the records go to the authority within 10 and 30 days. A delegate of the mayor attends when the prize plan exceeds 1.000 minimum monthly wages, and the delegate is asked for below that too (art. 2.7.4.10).
Source: Ley 643 de 2001, juegos de suerte y azar (Secretaría del Senado)
Source: Decreto 2104 de 2016, juegos promocionales (Función Pública)
Source: Coljuegos
Contests of skill
A contest decided only by skill, creativity or knowledge, judged on published criteria, is not a game of chance.
Say how winners are chosen, who judges, and where and when they are announced.
If any winner is picked at random, for example a draw among the correct answers, the contest becomes a game of chance and needs authorisation.
Source: Ley 643 de 2001, juegos de suerte y azar (Secretaría del Senado)
Source: Ley 1480 de 2011, Estatuto del Consumidor (Secretaría del Senado)
Participants' personal data
Names, phones and photos of participants are personal data (Ley 1581 de 2012). Ask their consent, say what the data is used for and how they can see, correct or delete it.
Children's data has extra protection (art. 7): under-18s take part with a parent's or guardian's consent.
Keep the data only as long as the promotion needs it.
Source: Ley 1581 de 2012 (Función Pública)
Source: Decreto 1377 de 2013 (Función Pública)
Alcohol and minors
Selling alcoholic drinks to minors is prohibited (Ley 124 de 1994, art. 1), so an alcohol promotion is for adults only.
Every ad or promotion of alcoholic drinks must expressly mention that prohibition (art. 3; Decreto 120 de 2010, art. 15). The app adds the line "Prohíbase el expendio de bebidas embriagantes a menores de edad. El exceso de alcohol es perjudicial para la salud." to the terms and the ad line.
Source: Ley 124 de 1994 (Función Pública)
Influencers: say it is advertising
The SIC guide on advertising through influencers (2020) asks that the commercial relationship between the influencer and the advertiser be clear, for example with #Publicidad, also when the influencer is paid in products.
Social networks have their own rules for promotions; follow them as well.
Source: Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio
Dates and business days
Business days are Monday to Friday without Colombian public holidays (Ley 51 de 1983, with the 9 July holiday added by Ley 2578 de 2026).
The app suggests asking Recocha 5 business days before the pieces must be ready, and asking for a raffle's authorisation 15 business days before the start.
Example: for a raffle starting on Friday 20 November 2026, ask by Wednesday 28 October 2026; Monday 2 and Monday 16 November are holidays.
Source: Ley 51 de 1983 (Función Pública)
Source: Ley 2578 de 2026 (Secretaría del Senado)
