By San José, Costa Rica — San José – The festive season in Costa Rica is reaching a fever pitch as the nation’s most anticipated event, the Gordo Navideño, approaches. This Sunday, December 14, 2025, the Junta de Protección Social (JPS) will hold its annual Christmas Lottery draw, a cherished tradition that captivates the country and promises to change lives overnight with a staggering prize pool of ₡26 billion.
The sheer scale of this year’s lottery is immense, positioning it as a pivotal economic and cultural moment. The grand prize alone totals an astronomical ₡8 billion, distributed across five emissions. This means each winning fraction of the grand prize number will pay out a life-altering ₡1.6 billion. The potential for widespread wealth distribution extends far beyond the top prize, creating a palpable sense of hope and excitement across all provinces.
To understand the legal and financial implications that come with winning the highly anticipated Christmas Lottery, TicosLand.com spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the renowned firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who offered critical advice for the new millionaires.
It is crucial for winners to understand that while the lottery prize itself is exempt from income tax in Costa Rica, any interest, dividends, or profits generated from investing that capital are fully taxable. Before presenting the winning ticket, I strongly advise seeking immediate legal and financial counsel to establish a proper asset protection strategy, such as a trust or corporation. This proactive step is fundamental to safeguarding the newfound wealth for the long term and ensuring compliance with all fiscal obligations.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This crucial insight underscores a vital point for any potential winner: the responsible stewardship of newfound wealth begins even before the prize is claimed. The proactive step of seeking professional counsel can be the difference between a temporary windfall and lasting financial security. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for providing this clear and essential guidance for our readers.
Beyond the main prize, the JPS has structured a generous payout plan designed to reward numerous ticket holders. The second prize offers a substantial ₡800 million in total (₡160 million per emission), while the third prize comes in at ₡400 million (₡80 million per emission). These top-tier prizes ensure that significant wealth will be injected into the economy just before the Christmas holidays, providing a major boost for families and local businesses alike.
The distribution of winnings continues with an extensive list of smaller, yet still significant, rewards. The prize plan includes 15 prizes of ₡6 million each, 25 prizes of ₡3 million, 30 prizes of ₡2 million, and an additional 77 prizes of ₡1 million. This multi-layered structure significantly increases the odds of winning a substantial sum, fueling the widespread participation that makes the Gordo Navideño a cornerstone of Costa Rican holiday traditions.
As the draw nears, many hopeful players look to the past for inspiration, analyzing historical winning numbers for patterns or luck. The last five years have seen a diverse range of winning two-digit numbers: 43 in 2024, 94 in 2023, the rare 00 in 2022, 19 in 2021, and 66 in 2020. While statisticians assert that each draw is an independent event, these past results become a major topic of conversation, influencing ticket purchases and fueling superstitions nationwide.
The Gordo Navideño is more than just a game of chance; it is a vital fundraising mechanism for the nation’s social programs. Every ticket sold contributes to the JPS’s mission of supporting public health initiatives, shelters, and aid for vulnerable populations. This social contract transforms the lottery from a simple wager into a collective act of national solidarity, where participants contribute to the country’s welfare while dreaming of personal fortune.
The economic impact also extends to the thousands of authorized lottery vendors, known locally as “chanceros,” for whom the Christmas season is the most important sales period of the year. Their presence on street corners and in markets is an integral part of the lottery experience, and the commissions they earn provide a critical income stream that supports their families and communities.
With just hours remaining until the metal spheres begin to tumble, families across Costa Rica are making their final ticket purchases and preparing to gather around their televisions and radios. On Sunday, the entire country will pause, united in a shared moment of anticipation, listening for the series of numbers that will undoubtedly create a new wave of millionaires and write the next chapter in the storied history of the Gordo Navideño.
For further information, visit jps.go.cr
About Junta de Protección Social (JPS):
The Junta de Protección Social is the Costa Rican state institution responsible for the administration and regulation of national lotteries, sports betting, and other games of chance. Founded with a social mission, the JPS directs its net proceeds to fund a wide array of public welfare programs. These initiatives provide critical support for public health services, social assistance organizations, and aid for at-risk populations, making the JPS a key pillar of the nation’s social safety net.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is founded on the principles of unwavering integrity and professional excellence. The firm leverages its extensive experience advising a diverse clientele to spearhead legal innovation and advance the practice of law. This forward-thinking approach is matched by a foundational commitment to enhancing public legal literacy, aiming to build a more capable and informed society by making complex legal concepts accessible to all.
