Colombia blocks 10,000 illegal gambling websites, social media accounts

February 5, 2025

Colombia blocks 10,000 illegal gambling websites, social media accounts

Colombia’s gambling regulator, Coljuegos, has blocked 10,000 unlicensed gambling websites and social media accounts promoting illegal games of chance. This marks the largest crackdown in the regulator’s history as it continues to protect consumers and ensure fair play in the country’s gaming industry.

10,000 entities blocked in a sweeping action

Coljuegos revealed that the blocked portals included illegal online casinos, digital bingo halls, unregulated sportsbooks, and social media profiles offering raffles, promotions, and other games of chance. The regulator stressed that these platforms were operating without the necessary licenses, violating Colombian law.

As part of its efforts, Coljuegos collaborated with the Cybernetic Police Centre and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to block 289 social media profiles promoting illegal gambling activities. These profiles were found to be conducting raffles, bingo games, and other unauthorised gambling operations, which are strictly prohibited under Colombian regulations.

Legal consequences for illegal gambling

Coljuegos reiterated that operating unauthorised games of chance is a criminal offence under Article 312 of Colombia’s Criminal Code. Those found guilty of promoting or operating illegal gambling platforms face fines of up to 100 times the legal monthly minimum wage in Colombia. The regulator also highlighted that it is pursuing 35 administrative sanctioning processes against individuals and organisations involved in illegal gambling, including influencers and online entities.

Only licensed operators are allowed

Marco Emilio Hincapié, President of Coljuegos (featured in the image above), stressed the importance of the regulator’s actions, stating that the latest ban wave is the largest in the organisation’s history.

“During our administration, we have managed to decisively attack illegal operators who, through fraudulent sites, operate games of chance and luck without the respective authorisation. This is the highest number of blocked portals in the history of our entity,” said Hincapié.

He stressed that these efforts align with President Gustavo Petro’s directives to combat fraud and protect Colombian citizens’ health and financial well-being.

“From the entity, we are complying with the instructions of President Gustavo Petro: to attack illegality in the industry and protect resources for the health of Colombians,” Hincapié added.

The regulator also said that only 16 licensed online operators are permitted to offer gambling services in Colombia. These operators are required to pay an annual licensing fee, which is then distributed to various social causes, including healthcare and education. By operating illegally, unlicensed platforms evade these fees and expose consumers to significant risks, including fraud and financial harm.

New VAT on online gambling

In related news, the Colombian government has introduced a Value Added Tax (VAT) on online gambling activities. This measure, which came into effect recently, aims to generate additional revenue to address the humanitarian crisis in Catatumbo, where violence has displaced over 39,000 people. The VAT effectively removes a tax exemption online gambling companies have enjoyed since 2016.

The government estimates that the new tax could generate up to $500 million annually, providing much-needed funds for social programs. However, some industry experts have raised concerns about the long-term economic impact of the tax, particularly on licensed operators who may face increased operational costs.