Coljuegos, Colombia’s chief gambling regulatory body, has publicly acknowledged inappropriate behavior exhibited by some of its officials during oversight activities at Casino Dallas, a licensed gambling establishment located in the historic city of Cartagena. The incident, which unfolded in the early days of May, has prompted an unexpected apology from the regulatory body and signals an unwavering endeavor to combat unregulated gambling activities across the nation.
Without delving into the specifics of the alleged misconduct, Coljuegos has confirmed that Casino Dallas is indeed a fully authorized gambling service provider, extending an apology to the casino owners, Antonio Chaurra Parra and Lucas Betancur Salazar, for any misconduct by officials during the regulatory inspection.
Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos, expressed the agency’s commitment to prevent reoccurrence of such behaviors, emphasizing its responsibility to carry out regulatory procedures professionally against illegal gambling practices. “We reiterate our commitment as an entity to prevent this type of inappropriate procedures from being repeated during control activities against illegal operations carried out subsequently,” Hincapié stated.
Further underscoring the role of legal gambling enterprises, Hincapié highlighted their significant contributions to the health sector of Colombia. “We also highlight the important contribution that gambling and gambling entrepreneurs make to the health of Colombians. For this reason, we insist on our commitment to work hand in hand with authorised operators to continue our frontal fight against illegal betting.”
This conciliatory gesture came against the backdrop of a larger, coordinated crackdown on unlicensed gambling operations across Colombia. Earlier in the month, Coljuegos publicized the successful dismantling of over 1,000 devices affiliated with unlawful betting activities and signaled continuation of such decisive measures across other regions in the forthcoming days.
The aggressive stance taken by the regulator was articulated by Hincapié: “We continue to strike illegality with forceful actions. We are telling those who operate games of luck and chance without a concession contract to comply with the law and contribute to the health of Colombians. We are providing all the facilities to those who do want to be legal. On the other hand, we will continue to be implacable with those who insist on operating without authorisation and without providing resources for health.”
Coljuegos estimates that the shadowy illegal gambling networks are costing the Colombian state around $1.5 billion annually in missing exploitation rights fees.
Amidst these enforcement efforts, Coljuegos also recently extended the implementation deadline for responsible gambling (RG) measures to August. As per Resolution 7,624 of 2024, licensed operators now have until August 1st to enact protocols to promote responsible gambling across the nation. The increased focus on RG showcases Colombia’s proactive approach to mitigate gambling-related harm and ensure the welfare of its citizens.
Colombia’s gambling landscape underwent a significant transformation with the passing of Law 643 in 2001, which initiated the Gambling Act. Colombia later became a pioneering country in Latin America by regulating online gaming and legalizing online sports betting with the E-gaming Act in 2016, bolstering the industry’s regulatory framework.
The tax structure for gambling operators in Colombia is based on their return-to-player (RTP) rate, with those at an RTP of 83% of stakes taxed at 15%, and those exceeding an 83% RTP rate taxed at 17% of gross gaming revenue (GGR).
As Coljuegos continues its stringent vigilance against illegal gambling, licensed establishments like Casino Dallas will persist in contributing to the nation’s economy and health services, all under the watchful eye of regulatory enforcement, ensuring a fair and lawful gaming environment for Colombians.
