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According to Coljuegos, during the period 2022 – 2026, the territorial gaming sector in Colombia will have generated COP 2.56 trillion for the public health system. Coljuegos President Marco Emilio Hincapié presented the figures in the General Assembly of the Colombian Lottery Federation.
The 15 territorial lotteries transferred over COP 1.05 trillion to the healthcare system, and the permanent betting game (Chance) contributed COP 1.33 trillion, according to the regulator. The outcome of the results “shows continuing growth in the sector and the positive effect of measures taken to improve its long-term sustainability“, said Coljuegos.
During the presentation, Hincapié said: “With complete satisfaction and confidence, we can say that the Government of Change, led by Gustavo Petro, delivered on its commitment to healthcare and the games of chance sector. Thanks to our management, territorial gaming experienced unprecedented growth that translated into more resources for Colombia’s most vulnerable citizens.”
Sales Growth and Regulatory Modernization
The commercial markets in the territories also saw good results in Coljuegos during the four-year period. Only COP 2.9 trillion were sold through the lottery and COP 10.6 trillion were sold through Chance.
Hincapié also shared a few measures he said are being taken to consolidate Colombia’s regulated gaming market, along with the financial results. He added: “We have signed more than 40 agreements for legality with lottery and Chance concessionaires to combat criminal organizations operating unauthorized games. This has allowed us to strengthen the legal industry across all 32 departments.”
The regulator said that it has updated the sector regulations, enhanced transparency and supervisory mechanisms, encouraged responsible gambling programs, established new technical standards for lottery draws, and facilitated institutional modernization of lottery operators, in cooperation with the National Council of Games of Chance.
New Regulatory Projects Under Development
In the future, Coljuegos stated that more regulatory changes are already in preparation to modernize the lottery sector in Colombia. Some of the proposals include the integration of Random Number Generation (RNG) technologies, authorization for digital lottery draw broadcasting, and development of outstanding mechanisms that ensure the financial stability of lottery operators.
“These results demonstrate that when there is a clear vision and coordinated work between the National Government and the country’s lotteries, it is possible to strengthen a strategic sector that not only generates employment and regional development but also guarantees more resources to finance healthcare for millions of Colombians“, said Hincapié.
The modernization package is part of Coljuegos‘ overall agenda for the modernization of its operations and in strengthening the integrity of the regulated gaming market in Colombia.
More Than 46,000 Illegal Gambling Websites Targeted
Coljuegos additionally provided fresh statistics on its legal action against online gambling. From 2022, the regulator has already issued 46,228 blocking orders for websites offering gambling games without authorization in Colombia.
Blocking actions are an integral part of the regulator’s continuing efforts to curb illegal gambling, Hincapié said. He explained, “Never before has an administration fought illegal gambling with such determination. Through our Artificial Intelligence Center, Coljuegos has optimized the detection and blocking of unauthorized gambling websites.”
The regulator also cautioned consumers about using only legal online gambling websites that have been approved to run in Colombia, highlighting its ongoing efforts to direct players to the regulated sector and cut down on the number of illegal gambling operators.
Source: SBC Noticias
