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Colombian Regulator Plans to Overhaul Slot Machine Laws in 2024

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Coljuegos, the Gambling Authority of Colombia, has published plans for a “regulatory project” to overhaul the rules on owning and operating electronic slot machines (ESMs).

The regulator plans to initiate the project in 2024, a move deemed critical as Coljuegos seeks to terminate the “illegal economy” of unauthorized ESMs operating across Colombia’s 32 federal territories.

The project is accompanied by a “public comment period” open until 14 December, to allow industry stakeholders and interested parties to submit feedback on initial proposals.

According to Coljuegos, the project aims to promote “territorial development with the replacement of illegal economies with legal ones, considering the productive capacities of intervened areas.”

The market size of illegal ESMs is estimated to be worth up to COP 945bn (€220m), accounting for approximately 34% of the total ESM marketplace.

Coljuegos estimates that 50,000 illegal machines are operating across Colombian territories, causing a significant loss of income to the state.

The project’s initial requirements call for all venues operating ESMs to certify their business status with Coljuegos. This requirement is essential as Coljuegos will implement new criteria for land-based venues to operate ESMs based on legality, the principle of opportunity, and the promotion of peace.

“It is imperative that companies wishing to collaborate with Coljuegos comply with this condition to guarantee equity and trust in the selection procedures,” the authority emphasized.

Once the process is advanced, Coljuegos will publish the schedule, procedures, and other financial requirements for those businesses wishing to operate licensed ESMs.

The regulator initially proposed to limit the number of machines to 80 per operator, with the exact number dependent on the size of the venue and the population of the local area. The project also outlines the tender’s duration, certification for gaming machines, prize limits, and the identification of technology suppliers.

From 1 January 2024, Coljuegos will become the central monitor of gambling advertising, and Colombian operators will undertake significant regulatory changes.

Licensed operators will abide by a new “tiered system” of advertising, whereby the more revenue an operator contributes to the state in taxes, the greater allowance they will be granted to spend on marketing campaigns.

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Coljuegos and Spanish National Police Sign Cooperation Agreement to Combat Illegal Gambling

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Coljuegos and the Spanish National Police signed an international cooperation agreement to combat illegal gambling, fraudulent betting, sports corruption and money laundering, phenomena that affect public safety and finance transnational organised crime networks.

The agreement establishes a solid and lasting framework for collaboration between both institutions, focused on the prevention, control and punishment of illegal activities related to gambling, especially in digital environments.

“This procedure strengthens our capacity to combat illegal gambling beyond our borders. Organized crime does not operate in isolation, and that is why international cooperation is key to protecting legality, transparency, and public trust,” said Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos.

One of the central aspects of the agreement is the exchange of strategic and operational information, the use of technological tools for tracking online betting, support in financial investigations, and cooperation through agencies such as Interpol and Europol to confront criminal networks operating between Colombia and Spain.

The alliance also includes the training and development of officials, the development of joint actions, and awareness programs on integrity in sports and betting, with the aim of preventing the fixing of sporting events and fraud associated with illegal platforms.

“We are taking a decisive step against illegal platforms that operate from abroad and that affect both public resources and the most vulnerable populations,” he said.

The cooperation agreement will be valid for four years, renewable only once, and reinforces the commitment of both entities to the fight against fraud, corruption and illegal gambling, consolidating a common front between Colombia and Spain to protect the integrity of the sector and the safety of citizens.

The post Coljuegos and Spanish National Police Sign Cooperation Agreement to Combat Illegal Gambling appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Bingo Halls and Casinos in Colombia Increased Their Contributions to Healthcare System by 9.3% in 2025

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During 2025, land-based gaming once again became the segment that contributed the most resources to the subsidized healthcare system in Colombia. With an estimated $378,268 billion transferred from monopoly revenues, bingo halls and casinos accounted for 39% of total revenue in the gambling industry.

The president of Coljuegos, Marco Emilio Hincapié, explained that the increase in revenue is mainly due to the entity’s efforts to combat illegality and to regulate the market.

“In 2024, localized gaming contributed $345.875 billion, almost $33 billion less than last year. This 9.3% increase in transfers to healthcare demonstrates that the industry continues to experience an excellent period under the current administration,” said Hincapié.

Similarly, the president of the entity explained that, through Virtual Sports Racing Betting (VSRB), it is expected that localized games will improve their offering and become more attractive to bettors.

It is worth noting that, to date, there are approximately 109,000 legal electronic slot machines operating in the country in more than 3700 authorized establishments.

“This increase in revenue would not have been possible without our relentless strategy against illegal gambling. In 2025 alone, we seized 3047 illegal gambling devices in 95 enforcement actions carried out in 15 departments: something never before seen in the state,” Hincapié stated.

He concluded: “We hope that this year, with strategies like the Machines for Peace, localized games will continue to increase their transfers for the health of the most needy Colombians.”

The post Bingo Halls and Casinos in Colombia Increased Their Contributions to Healthcare System by 9.3% in 2025 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Colombia’s Coljuegos Intensifies its Efforts to Block Illegal Gambling Websites

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Coljuegos, the regulatory authority overseeing gambling sites in Colombia, has intensified its efforts to block illegal gambling websites. Coljuegos will now directly send requests to Internet Service Providers to block websites that operate online games without paying the respective royalties.

Coljuegos President Marco Emilio Hincapié said this strategy will be implemented based on Circular 017 of 2025, issued by the Ministry of ICT, which defined the guidelines and procedures for blocking websites dedicated to the exploitation, sale, payment, or advertising of unauthorized games of chance.

“From the Government of Change, we are working together to protect the gambling industry. After several roundtable discussions with the Ministry of Information and Communications (MINTIC), we were able to simplify the process of blocking illegal gambling websites,” Hincapié said.

The president of the entity highlighted that, to date, nearly 26,600 blocking orders have been issued to unauthorized betting sites.

“With this new procedure, we hope to block illegal platforms more quickly. We will no longer have to submit requests to different entities; instead, we will be able to order blocks directly from internet providers,” Hincapié said.

This Ministry of Information and Communications (MINTIC) measure is issued in compliance with Decree 0175 of 2025, which adopted tax measures due to the state of internal unrest declared by the National Government.

“In addition to fighting illegal operators, our goal is to protect resources for peace and health, as well as provide greater safeguards for the 14 authorized operators in the country,” Hincapié added.

The post Colombia’s Coljuegos Intensifies its Efforts to Block Illegal Gambling Websites appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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