Over the last decade, the gaming sector in Colombia has become a key source of funding for the Colombian health system. Since the creation ofin 2011, revenue from this industry has grown steadily and exceeded initial expectations, driven by technological modernisation, effective regulation and the fight against illegality. This phenomenon, which has become particularly noticeable in recent years, reveals the impact that efficient public management, adapted to the challenges of the digital economy, can have.
From creation to legal operation
Coljuegos, the entity responsible for managing the rent monopoly on games of chance in Colombia, was established by Decree Law 4142 on 3 November 2011. It was constituted as an industrial and commercial company of the State, decentralised and linked to the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, with legal personality, administrative autonomy and independent assets.
Although its legal creation was formalised in November 2011, Coljuegos started operations in March 2012, assuming functions that until then were distributed among other state entities such as ETESA, DIAN and the National Health Superintendence.
GAT Expo 2025 served as a stage for Coljuegos to present a balance sheet that shows the progress achieved. Beyond the numbers, the entity’s performance raises questions about the future challenges and opportunities for the country in terms of regulation, transparency and sustainability in a constantly changing industry.
Colombia’s exponential growth and revenue diversification
Since 2012, games of chance have contributed nearly COP 7.4 billion to the Colombian healthcare system, a figure that reflects the sector’s growth and its ability to adapt to new gaming modalities and distribution channels. The consolidation of online betting and localised games has surpassed official projections and has made it possible to reach COP 1 billion in annual transfers for the first time in 2024.
The president of Coljuegos, Marco Emilio Hincapié, attributes these results to a combination of factors: “Never before has the gaming sector performed so positively. This is due, to a large extent, to the efforts of the National Government in terms of regulation of the industry, control of illegality and technological modernisation”, he stated during his intervention at GAT Expo 2025. The boom in iGaming is especially relevant: between January and March 2025, this segment transferred COP118,571 million pesos to the subsidised health regime, and player deposits in legal portals grew by 10.69% compared to the same period of the previous year.
The fiscal impact is not limited to direct transfers to health. Authorised operators have contributed 147.498 billion Colombian pesos in VAT, a new measure that has allowed these resources to finance peace and development projects. These reforms have benefited approximately 770,000 Colombians in the subsidised system, with allocations that include 663 billion Colombian pesos to the Ministry of Health and 188 billion Colombian pesos to various departmental funds.
Technology, control and formalisation
The sector’s growth in Colombia has not been without challenges. Illegal gambling and tax evasion represented the greatest threat to the sustainability of transfers to the healthcare system. To mitigate these actions, Coljuegos has opted for technological innovation and constant monitoring.
The creation of the Gaming Artificial Intelligence Centre (CIAC) has enabled real-time monitoring of more than 110,000 slot machines and 17 online gaming operators, as well as the blocking of over 10,000 websites and 228 social network profiles dedicated to illegal operations.
These actions have had a tangible deterrent effect: in the last year, the entity seized 4,376 illegal gambling elements. It destroyed 8,317 slot machines, avoiding an estimated loss of 250 billion pesos in transfers to the health system. In addition, Coljuegos has filed 577 complaints with the Attorney General’s Office (), strengthening the fight against money laundering and illicit enrichment.
The regulation for iGaming has also been key. For example, Decree 1486 of December 2024 established a stricter regulatory framework for raffles, with a projected revenue of more than 70 billion pesos for next year. At the same time, the “METs de la Paz” resolution aims to formalise more than 100,000 illegal slot machines to ensure that their operators effectively contribute to public health.
Towards a more transparent and sustainable industry
The balance presented by Coljuegos shows the economic potential of the sector and poses challenges for its consolidation. The projection for 2025 includes the launch of new games such as Keno and betting on virtual sports races, as well as continuing to strengthen controls over online platforms. Institutional modernisation and control will continue to be priorities, with the aim of increasing transfers and combating illegality more effectively.
This article was first published in Spanish on 29 April 2025.
