Coljuegos reports record results in fight against illegal gambling
2026-08-07
Source: Global Gaming Insider
Coljuegos reported record enforcement results against illegal gambling, including 12,852 device seizures, 15,644 destroyed devices, hundreds of sanctions and extensive online blocking actions, while stressing the impact of illegal activity on health system funding.
Colombia's gambling regulator, Coljuegos, has published enforcement figures it describes as a historic high for its campaign against unlicensed gambling under the current government. The agency said the numbers reflect a sustained push to curb both land-based and online illegal operations.
Working with the National Police, the Attorney General's Office and regional authorities, Coljuegos carried out 514 enforcement actions that led to the seizure of 12,852 illegal gambling devices across 24 of the country's departments. The regulator also destroyed 15,644 devices, including electronic slot machines, betting terminals and roulette wheels — the first time it has surpassed 15,000 destroyed devices in a single reporting period.
According to Coljuegos president Marco Emilio Hincapié, the pressure on unauthorized operators has been unprecedented. "Criminal organizations operating unauthorized gambling have never faced pressure like this before," he said. Hincapié also noted that no part of the country has been treated as off-limits during the administration's enforcement drive.
The regulator estimated that illegal gambling had deprived Colombia's health system of more than COP400bn ($124.4m), a sector that relies heavily on gaming revenue for funding. The agency has been working to redirect those funds back into legitimate channels.
Online operations were also targeted: Coljuegos issued 58,916 orders to block websites promoting or hosting illegal betting, and identified 437 social media profiles advertising unlicensed betting houses. In addition, more than 1,961 cases that had been stalled since 2017 were referred to the Attorney General's Office for action.
Coljuegos also imposed 209 sanctions with a combined value exceeding COP94.739bn for illegal gambling activities. The broader effort was supported by 56 legality agreements signed with mayors' offices, governors' offices, licensed operators, trade groups and lottery concessionaires, all aimed at strengthening cooperation against the unlicensed market.