Operator News
Colombia – Colombia’s Gaming Board signs anti-illegal gaming pact
By Phil - 26 May 2017
Colombia’s battle against illegal gaming is gaining ground with the signing of a new pact between The Colombian Gaming Control Board (Coljuegos) and the regional government of Caldas.
Earlier this week local lawmakers and members of the board signed the pact for Legality of the Gambling Sector, a strategy with which Coljuegos aims to combat illegal gaming and raise funds for the health sector. Caldas makes up 3.6 per cent of the gaming market as a whole in Colombia meaning that it is an important area when it comes to gaming.
The pact, which also aims to promote the “Playing Legal is Betting on Health” public awareness campaign was signed in the city of Manizales by Governor Ricardo Gómez Giraldo and city Mayor José Octavio Cardona León, both of whom expressed their commitment to the programme as well as operators and union representatives. Director of tax collection agency General Inspector Agency for Taxes, Incomes and Payroll Taxes (Agencia del Inspector General de Tributos, Rentas y Contribuciones Parafiscales), Marcela Moncada who was also present underlined the surveillance work of the entity, and its work alongside Coljuegos in the struggle against illegal gaming. Meanwhile President of Coljuegos Juan B. Pérez Hidalgo said that the latest agreement was an important milestone in the board’s ongoing battle against illegal gaming.
“The signing of these covenants is proof of the commitment of the leaders of each department in the fight against illegality. We thank all the regions that have been linked to this cause and we invite the other departments to get to know more about this initiative and take part in the ‘Playing Legal is Betting on Health’ campaign,” he said.
While the board has made many inroads in improving conditions for operators and the market has expanded considerably over recent years illegal gaming continues to remain an issue. Despite the fact that heavy penalties are now in place for non compliance with those found guilty of offences liable to pay of up to $50m pesos (around U.S$20,000) per illegal slot machine as well as six to eight years in prison it is estimated that illegal gaming still accounts for around 20 per cent of all bets made in Colombia.
However it is hoped that agreements between local governments and the board will lead to a nationwide crackdown as a number of government agencies and local leaders begin to work more closely. The implementation of the pact will be followed by closer coordination with the police, the prosecutor’s office as well as the municipal and departmental governments. So far Coljuegos has also signed agreements with the departments of Valle del Cauca, Boyacá and Bolíva.
