Junta de Proteccion Social

What Junta de Proteccion Social does

Junta de Protección Social (JPS) is an autonomous government state entity of Costa Rica, headquartered in San José, that operates as the country's national lottery monopoly under Ley de Loterías (Law 7395) and Law 8718. The organization runs a portfolio of eight core lottery and gambling products — Lotería Nacional, Chances, 3 Monazos, Lotto, Rueda de la Fortuna, Nuevos Tiempos Reventados, El Premio Acumulado, and Lotería Instantánea — supplemented by promotional activations and a raffle-authorization service. Distribution is omnichannel: authorized physical sellers (Punto Fijo and Punto No Fijo), Punto Max electronic point-of-sale terminals, a proprietary e-commerce platform (jpsenlinea.go.cr), and the JPS Plus mobile application on iOS and Android, with live broadcast draws serving as a key consumer-engagement mechanism.

Under Law 8718, JPS is mandated to distribute lottery proceeds to social welfare programs serving vulnerable populations, channeling funds through four modalities — Apoyo a la Gestión (supporting 400+ non-profit organizations), Giros Directos (mandated transfers to institutions including Cruz Roja Costarricense, CCSS, and Banco Créditohipotecario), Proyectos Específicos, and Necesidades Específicas — with technical endorsement from governing bodies such as PANI, CONAPAM, CONAPDIS, IAFA, Ministerio de Salud, and MEP. The organization also operates cemetery services (Cementerio General and Cementerio Metropolitano) under its Camposantos division and holds institutional membership in the World Lottery Association.

Revenue is generated primarily through ticket and number sales across physical and digital channels, with prize payouts to winners and remaining proceeds allocated to social programs; JPS also charges fees for raffle authorization services. The organization employs 51-100 staff, is governed by a Junta Directiva led by President Paola Nájera Abarca, and operates within a regulated cost-plus-style framework rather than a profit-maximizing commercial model. Specific ticket prices and financial results are not publicly itemized on the website, reflecting its status as a public institution rather than a market-disclosing enterprise.

Name

Junta de Proteccion Social

Legal name

Junta de Protección Social

Website

https://jps.go.cr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Junta de Protección Social is a Costa Rican autonomous government entity that operates the national lottery and games of chance monopoly and channels proceeds into 500+ social welfare programs serving vulnerable populations. It distributes via physical sellers, online platform, and mobile app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Lottery Services

NAICS

Gambling Industries (7132), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAEAFAA

Lottery Operators (Government & Private Licensed)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Gambling, Betting & Casinos/Lottery & Lottery Services

SECONDARYMPAEAFAE

Draw-Based Lottery Management (Number Games, Keno as Lottery)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Gambling, Betting & Casinos/Lottery & Lottery Services

SECONDARYMPAEAFAF

Lottery Retailer Networks & Distribution Services

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Gambling, Betting & Casinos/Lottery & Lottery Services

SECONDARYMPAEAFAN

Lottery Beneficiary/Fund Administration & Grant Management Services

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Gambling, Betting & Casinos/Lottery & Lottery Services

Keywords

• National lottery services
• Lottery games
• Social welfare funding
• Cemetery services
• Raffle authorization

Headquarters

HQ city

San José

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Lottery and Gambling Product Sales: JPS operates and manages multiple lottery and gambling games (Lotería Nacional, Chances, Lotto, 3 Monazos, Rueda de la Fortuna, El Premio Acumulado, Lotería Instantánea, Nuevos Tiempos Reventados). Revenue is generated from ticket/number sales across physical and digital channels, with prizes paid out to winners and remaining proceeds allocated to social programs. The organization also charges fees for raffle authorization services (autorización de rifas) for third parties.
2. Social Fund Distribution (Return of Proceeds): Distributes lottery proceeds to social organizations and public institutions per Law 8718, through four modalities: Apoyo a la Gestión (management support to 400+ organizations), Giros Directos (direct transfers to institutions like Cruz Roja Costarricense and CCSS), Proyectos Específicos (specific project funding), and Necesidades Específicas (specific needs funding). This is not revenue but a mandated distribution of lottery earnings to social beneficiaries.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Junta de Protecci\u00f3n Social operates Costa Rica's national lottery and games of chance system, managing eight lottery products including Loter\u00eda Nacional, Chances, Lotto, 3 Monazos, Nuevos Tiempos Reventados, El Premio Acumulado, Loter\u00eda Instant\u00e1nea, and Rueda de la Fortuna. Per Law 8718, the organization distributes lottery proceeds to over 500 social welfare programs serving vulnerable populations, and additionally operates two cemeteries (Cementerio General and Cementerio Metropolitano) in San Jos\u00e9 Province. Products are sold through an omnichannel network including a proprietary online platform, mobile application, electronic terminals, and authorized physical sellers.

Product overview

Junta de Protección Social operates Costa Rica's national lottery system with a diverse portfolio of lottery and gambling products. The core offerings include traditional draw-based lotteries (Lotería Nacional, Chances, 3 Monazos, Lotto), progressive jackpot games (El Premio Acumulado with ₡604 million current jackpot), TV game shows (Rueda de la Fortuna), instant lottery tickets, and the Nuevos Tiempos Reventados daily lottery with MEGA REVENTADA feature. The institution distributes funds from lottery profits to over 500 social programs through its Social Organization Services, supporting vulnerable populations. Additional services include an online sales platform (JPS En Línea), mobile application (JPS Plus available on iOS and Android), cemetery management (Camposantos - Cementerio General and Metropolitano), authorized seller network, raffle authorization, and regulatory compliance services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lotería Nacional: National lottery game offering
• Chances
• Lotto
• 3 Monazos
• Rueda de la Fortuna
• Nuevos Tiempos Reventados
• El Premio Acumulado
• Lotería Instantánea
• Camposantos JPS

Products and services

• Loter\u00eda Nacional

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ social programs funded annually through lottery revenues
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cruz Roja Costarricense (Costa Rican Red Cross)coreOthersJPS distributes lottery revenues directly to the Cruz Roja Costarricense as a Giros Directos beneficiary under Law 8718. This is a mandated government transfer relationship where JPS provides funding to support the Red Cross's humanitarian operations.
• Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS)coreOthersJPS makes direct fund transfers to CCSS (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social) to support the non-contributory pension regime, in accordance with Law 8718. This is a mandated inter-institutional fund transfer relationship.
• PANI (Patronato Nacional de la Infancia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPANI serves as the regulatory oversight body for social programs serving children and at-risk minors that receive JPS funding. PANI provides technical endorsement (aval) for organizations serving vulnerable children, and participates in inter-institutional commissions for project prioritization. JPS provides financial support to programs endorsed by PANI.
• CONAPAM (Consejo Nacional de la Persona Adulta Mayor)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCONAPAM is the governing body for elderly care programs that receive JPS social fund transfers. The council provides regulatory endorsement for organizations serving senior citizens and participates in project prioritization commissions. JPS funds approved programs in coordination with CONAPAM.
• CONAPDIS (Consejo Nacional de la Persona con Discapacidad)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCONAPDIS serves as the regulatory oversight body for disability programs that receive JPS funding. It provides technical endorsement for organizations serving people with disabilities and participates in project selection commissions. JPS channels social funds to programs endorsed by CONAPDIS.
• IAFA (Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAFA is the governing body for addiction prevention and treatment programs that receive JPS funding. IAFA provides technical endorsement for organizations in this sector and participates in inter-institutional project prioritization commissions. JPS funds IAFA-endorsed addiction treatment programs.
• Ministerio de Salud (Ministry of Health)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of Health provides regulatory oversight and technical endorsement for health-related social programs receiving JPS funding, including cancer prevention, palliative care, and sexually transmitted disease prevention programs. It participates in project evaluation commissions and issues habilitation certificates for beneficiary organizations.
• MEP (Ministerio de Educación Pública)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEP provides regulatory oversight and technical endorsement for educational programs serving special education students and at-risk children that receive JPS funding. JPS channels social fund transfers to MEP-endorsed programs through Juntas Administrativas de Escuelas de Enseñanza Especial.
• Banco Créditohipotecario de la ViviendaminorOthersOne of the institutions receiving direct fund transfers (Giros Directos) from JPS under Law 8718, though the specific purpose of this transfer is not detailed on the website.
• World Lottery Association (WLA)minorOthersWLA logo appears in the JPS website footer. WLA is the international body representing state lotteries globally, of which JPS is a member. This represents institutional affiliation and adherence to WLA responsible gambling standards.
• Federación de Surf de Costa RicaminorOthersJPS sponsors the JPS Surf Championship 2024, a national surfing competition, as part of its sports sponsorship and community engagement program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Scientific Games Corporation: Major supplier of instant-win lottery tickets, draw systems, and iLottery technology to government-operated lotteries globally — comparable in enabling the draw-management and instant-ticket infrastructure JPS relies on.
• La Française des Jeux (FDJ): France's national lottery operator offering draw-based games, scratch cards, and sports betting under a regulated monopoly — comparable business model at larger scale with diversified gaming portfolio.
• Lottomatica (IGT Lottery): International lottery technology and operations provider serving multiple state lotteries worldwide with draw-management systems, instant games, and iLottery platforms — comparable technology stack for lottery draw management and digital sales.

Direct peers

• Texas Lottery Commission: Texas state lottery operator managing draw-based and instant games with mandated public-benefit funding model — comparable in scale of operations and product portfolio.
• Florida Lottery: U.S. state lottery offering draw-based games (Lotto, Fantasy 5, Powerball), scratch tickets, and digital play, with proceeds funding education — directly comparable state-monopoly lottery operator with multi-game portfolio.
• Lotería Nacional de Panamá: Panamanian state lottery operator running national draw-based lotteries (Loteria Nacional, chances, instant tickets) with social-fund mandate — directly comparable Central American state-lottery model serving a similar regional population profile.
• Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (LOTBA): Buenos Aires city-state lottery operator running traditional and instant lottery products with regulatory oversight — comparable state-owned lottery operator with similar product mix and regional regulatory role.
• Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG): Canadian provincial lottery operator offering draw-based games, instant tickets, and digital iLottery with proceeds directed to public services — operates under a comparable state-mandate, multi-product lottery framework.
• Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (LAE): Spanish state-owned national lottery operator running draw-based lotteries (Lotería Nacional, Lotería de Navidad) with omnichannel distribution and social-fund mandate — closely mirrors JPS's regulated monopoly and product portfolio.
• Lotería Nacional para la Asistencia Pública (México): Mexican federal government lottery operator running draw-based national lottery games (Sorteo Superior, Sorteo Zodiacal, etc.) and distributing proceeds to social assistance programs — directly comparable dual-mission state lottery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JPS_CR?s=09
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@juntadeproteccionsocialjps4853?si=a0OZiqpP7p4yZSxr
• Facebookfacebook.com/SitioJPS?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Instagraminstagram.com/juntadeproteccionsocial.cr?igsh=NW90Mmhsa20zd2hz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/junta-de-protecci-n-social

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Junta de Proteccion Social