Coljuegos
Colombian Regulator Plans to Overhaul Slot Machine Laws in 2024
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.
BetPlay
Coljuegos: Betplay and Super Astro Contribute More Than $347.5B to health in 2025
Betplay and Super Astro remain two of the most profitable and popular gambling brands in Colombia. In 2025 alone, these two products, belonging to the Corredor Empresarial group, paid $347.587 billion in monopoly royalties.
“These funds paid to the Nation were transferred to finance the health system. Furthermore, they represent an 11% increase compared to the monopoly revenues paid for both products in 2024,” said Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos.
Similarly, between January and the first half of March 2026, Betplay and Super Astro have already paid out around $106.259 million, representing an increase of 1.56% compared to the same period in 2025.
“At Coljuegos, we have strengthened the innovative gaming industry, including Super Astro and online betting. That is why we continue to make history every day in raising funds for healthcare from this sector,” said the president of Coljuegos.
It is important to highlight that, during 2025, Betplay received deposits totaling $5.5 trillion from bettors. In addition, the platform contributed $745.594 billion in VAT, funds that were allocated to support peacebuilding efforts in the affected territories. Meanwhile, in 2025, Super Astro reported sales of $754.820 billion.
“Our commitment is to continue protecting the legal industry. That is why we will continue to fight tirelessly against those who operate unauthorized gambling and harm both businesses and the resources allocated to the health of Colombians,” Hincapié added.
The post Coljuegos: Betplay and Super Astro Contribute More Than $347.5B to health in 2025 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Coljuegos
Coljuegos: Over 240000 People Self-exclude from Online Gambling in Colombia
In order to prevent the consequences associated with loss of control in gambling, a total of 245,199 Colombian citizens have requested self-exclusion from online gambling portals between 2024 and 2025.
According to the president of Coljuegos, Marco Emilio Hincapié, this high number of self-exclusion registrations is due to the joint work between the entity and the operators to promote legal and responsible gambling.
“We have been implementing the ‘Take Control, Play It Safe’ campaign, through which we have informed players about the risks and consequences of uncontrolled gambling. Our purpose is to promote gambling as entertainment, not as an addiction,” Hincapié said.
The figures show a clear trend in behavior by gender: in both 2024 and 2025, 81% of self-exclusions were by men and 19% by women.
Regarding the geographical distribution, the largest volumes of applications come from the country’s most populated departments and cities. Antioquia leads the registrations with 21.39% in 2025, followed by Bogotá, which accounts for 19.07% of self-exclusions in 2025. Valle del Cauca, Atlántico, and Santander also present significant figures.
“Self-exclusion has become an increasingly popular self-care tool among Colombians. The increase and consistency in the records reflect a greater awareness of the risks of excessive gambling and the importance of having effective mechanisms to protect the health and well-being of users,” said the president of Coljuegos.
It’s worth noting that each of the 14 online gambling operators has a section on their platforms where bettors can request self-exclusion. This procedure allows them to block bets placed on profiles created with the applicant’s identification number.
“As a regulatory body, we will continue working with operators to strengthen these strategies and to promote safer and more responsible digital entertainment environments,” concluded the president of Coljuegos.
The post Coljuegos: Over 240000 People Self-exclude from Online Gambling in Colombia appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Coljuegos
Coljuegos and Spanish National Police Sign Cooperation Agreement to Combat Illegal Gambling
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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