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 first year of regulated online sports betting and gaming in Brazil generated tax revenue of BRL9.95bn ($1.88bn), the government has revealed.

The figure is a significant jump on 2024’s BRL91m ($17.2m), with the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service noting the rise is a “direct reflection of the sector’s regulation.”

The Brazilian Ministry of Finance and its dedicated sub-division for the gaming industry, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), have licensed and help set up a whole host of operators in the market, including local brands and global entrants.

The growth in tax revenue has been matched by a series of regulatory developments including the launch of Brazil’s online self-exclusion system.

Meanwhile, the government has looked to capitalise on the growing sector by introducing tax rises at the start of 2026 after previous attempts to do so fell through.

Taxes will go from 12% to 13% this year, to 14% in 2027 and then to 18% in 2028.

For trade associations such as the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming, the priority now is on tackling the illegal market, which still accounts for a sizeable portion of Brazilian online gaming activity.

Year-long data across nine regulated countries show Betano dominating Latin America by demand and revenue baseline, while strong local champions define national markets.

Drawing on a full year of data from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026, Blask evaluated licensed operator performance across Latin America’s regulated online betting and casino markets. The conclusion is unequivocal: Betano emerged as the dominant force across the region.

A regional leader emerges

In the LATAM-wide rankings, Betano secured both of the region’s top distinctions:

• America Operator of the Year, awarded for the highest cumulative Blask Index across the region
• America CEB Leader, recognizing the strongest aggregate Competitive Earning Baseline (CEB)

The regional analysis covered nine regulated markets (Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Panama, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic) and included only locally licensed operators.

Operators: leadership is local, not regional

Brazil, Latin America’s largest and most closely watched iGaming market, reinforced Betano’s regional dominance. The operator claimed both Brazil Operator of the Year and Brazil CEB Leader, reflecting its unmatched share of demand and revenue baseline in a market that increasingly sets the tone for the continent.

Mexico, the Andes, and Central America: strong national champions

Beyond Brazil, the awards reveal a region shaped by powerful local leaders.

In Mexico, Caliente captured both Mexico Operator of the Year and Mexico CEB Leader, maintaining its position as the country’s dominant licensed brand.

Peru recognized Apuesta Total as both Operator of the Year and CEB Leader, while Colombia’s tightly regulated market saw BetPlay take top honors in both categories.

Argentina presented a more divided picture: Betsson led in demand as Operator of the Year, while Bet365 topped the country’s CEB rankings.

In smaller but fast-formalizing markets, leadership was equally clear. Aposta.La dominated Paraguay, Betcha led Panama, GanaPlay topped El Salvador, and Betcris secured both awards in the Dominican Republic.

Games: one clear regional consensus

At game level, the picture is very different. Across every regulated Latin American market tracked by Blask, the same franchise led player demand:

• Brazil – Gates of Olympus 1000;
• Mexico – Gates of Olympus Super Scatter;
• Argentina – Gates of Olympus 1000

All top titles were developed by Pragmatic Play.

What this tells us about Latin America

Blask Awards data points to a clear regional insight:

• Operators win locally — success does not easily transfer across borders;
• Games win regionally — player preferences converge strongly around specific mechanics;
• LATAM is structurally different from Africa, where both operators and games show more cross-market overlap

Measuring power, not noise

Blask’s awards are built on proprietary metrics designed to capture market power rather than short-term performance.

The Blask Index tracks real-time demand and attention share, while CEB (Competitive Earning Baseline) estimates the statistically attainable revenue range for a brand based on its competitive position. Together, they offer a standardized way to compare operators across countries with very different market sizes and regulatory histories.

Crucially, the Blask Awards exclude unregulated markets and offshore-only brands — a methodological choice that, in Latin America, significantly reshapes traditional perceptions of leadership.

Latin America in the global picture

The Latin American results arrive alongside Blask’s global rankings, where Betano also led multiple worldwide categories.