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.

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.”