Colombia’s gambling regulatory body, Coljuegos, has ordered the blocking of 46,228 illegal betting platforms between 2022 and so far in 2026, as reported in a statement.
The president of Coljuegos, Marco Emilio Hincapié, has stated that “this is the result of an intense fight against gambling structures that operate outside the law”.
Hincapié has highlighted that “never before had an administration fought illegal gambling so forcefully. At Coljuegos, through our Artificial Intelligence Center, we have optimized the detection and blocking orders for unauthorized portals”.
Hincapié took over the presidency of Coljuegos in 2023. He replaced Roger Carillo, who held the position for barely two months, following the departure of César Augusto Valencia Galiano.
A member of Colombia Humana, Hincapié has been a political ally of Gustavo Petro, who will leave the Presidency of Colombia on August 7. During his term, Petro has maintained a critical stance toward gambling and has intensified his strategy against tax fraud. In March of this year, the Government introduced a new 16% VAT rate on bets placed on digital platforms.
“While past administrations only issued around 9,000 blocking requests, we multiplied that figure by 5, and in just 4 years. Illegal operators had never had it so bad,” said Hincapié.
It should be recalled that Colombia approved the regulation of online gambling in 2016 and became the first country in Latin America to create a specific regulatory framework for the activity. At that time, Juan B Pérez Hidalgo was head of the entity.
Currently, there are only 15 platforms authorized by the regulatory authority. Global Vitxo S.A.S, through its brand MrYoker.co, is the most recent to receive authorization from Coljuegos.
According to the gambling authority, gambling has contributed more than 1,000 million euros to the country’s health system between 2022 and 2026.
What awaits the sector with the arrival of Abelardo de la Espriella
Although Colombia’s president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, has not made public statements about his stance and plans regarding gambling, his victory over Iván Cepeda brings relief to the markets.
The rise to power of the lawyer and businessman who defines himself as a radical enemy of the left is seen as a new political chapter, characterized by a more favorable approach toward the private sector. Investors see it as an opportunity for reactivation based on greater economic freedom and a less intervened market.
From within the sector, it is believed that the new Government will need to work on improving the tax structure, the regulatory burden, controls against illegality, and technological oversight tools. They believe there is an opportunity to consolidate Colombia’s position on the global stage and ensure competitive, sustainable growth that allows the public health system to continue being funded.