Operator News
Colombia – Colombian Gaming Board reports huge gains in gaming tax
By Phil - 18 December 2019
Taxation and fees generated by gambling in Colombia has increased by a huge 75 per cent, meaning that Colombian gaming regulator Coljuegos expects to end the current year with a collection of $664.83bn (US$197,042,980)
In its latest financial summary for 2019 Pérez Hidalgo, President of Coljuegos highlighted the work carried out alongside local governments to help stamp out illegal gambling. During his presentation, the official reported that during the 2016 – 2019 period collection of
“Since the creation of Coljuegos, more than 2.4bn pesos have been contributed to health, benefiting more than 1.5m Colombians,” said the Director. Pérez Hidalgo also announced that ‘territorial games'(this category includes the popular lottery type game called ‘chance’ and other lotteries) continued to contribute to health financing in the departments, registering a growth of 6.3 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year. Likewise, the head of Coljuegos emphasised that these games continue to lead the pack when it comes to exploitation rights: “We expect to close 2019 with $ 377,432m (US$111,824,413), achieving a growth of nine per cent”, he said.
Rosa María Muñoz, Vice President of Commercial Development of Coljuegos, highlighted the increases seen by the online gaming sector. Coljuegos expects to close this year with a collection of $69,371m, (US$20,553,030) that is, a growth of 83 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year.
Federico Núñez, vice president of Operations of Coljuegos, meanwhile emphasised the positive results of the board’s strategy to combat illegal gaming. The official pointed out that as many as 2,000 unlicensed websites had been blocked so far.
The government is gaining ground in its battle with illegal gambling with the signing of pacts between Coljuegos and regional governments. Local lawmakers and members of the board have signed pacts for the “Legality of the Gambling Sector” a strategy with which Coljuegos aims to combat illegal gaming. The pacts also aim to promote the “Playing Legal is Betting on Health” public awareness campaign.
