Coljuegos has announced a package of temporary relief measures aimed at supporting land-based operators and concessionaires affected by the magnitude 6.1 earthquake on 10 August.
The initiative was designed to accelerate the recovery of disrupted sales outlets, gaming terminals and promotional activities without altering tax or fee obligations.
Outlined in Resolution No. 20260019544, published last week, the relief provisions apply exclusively to land-based operators and establishments. It will also cover points of sale and equipment that have demonstrably suffered physical damage due to the earthquake.
Coljuegos clarified that a mere decline in revenue will not qualify an operator for relief. Eligibility will be subject to stringent verification and ongoing monitoring by the regulator.
Support for land-based operations
By allowing affected operators to request express or automatic transfers of gaming equipment from damaged premises to other authorised locations and permitting premises severely impacted by the earthquake to be classified temporarily as “zero premises” without losing operational authorisation, the regulator has prioritised operational continuity for land-based and “localised” gaming activities.
Coljuegos will also provide a four-month window, extendable once, for operators to replace or reinstate the minimum required gaming equipment and will also expedite authorisations for new sites where original premises were destroyed.
The regulator has vowed to simplify the approval processes for replacement gaming equipment.
Land-based gambling has remained a key asset to the Colombian ecosystem. Last year, land-based casino and bingo operators increased the amount sent to the country’s healthcare system to COP378.3 billion ($104.8 million).
Special arrangements for national lottery games
For Colombia’s prominent national lotteries and number games, the regulations have offered tailored relief.
For Baloto, operators may temporarily exclude verified point and terminal unavailability from certain contractual performance indicators. They can also seek rescheduling of visits, tests, replacements and deployment deadlines in affected areas. Consolidated reporting post-event may be permitted.
In the case of Super Astro, licensees can have documented terminal outages recognised for the impacted period. They can also submit regularised data subsequently and operate under adjusted schedules for repairs and reactivation.
For KENO, the regulator will allow adjusted deployment, testing and acceptance timelines, along with temporary exclusion of affected points.
Online gaming remains under standard schedules with exceptions
Online gaming operators generally must adhere to existing transmission, reporting, declaration, settlement and payment schedules in light of centrally managed systems.
However, Coljuegos noted that exceptional, case-by-case relief may be granted where operators provide evidence of a direct and material inability to comply due to earthquake-related disruption.
To protect both consumer rights and business continuity, Coljuegos will prioritise requests to amend draw dates, locations, marketing periods and operational mechanisms for raffles and promotional games.
The question of tax
Crucially, the regulator emphasised that these measures do not equate to waivers of fees or taxes.
In recent months, the outgoing Colombian president submitted a new tax reform bill to Colombia’s Congress, including a permanent 19% VAT for online gambling operators.
The VAT was first introduced on an emergency basis in February 2025, with the government claiming it needed additional funds to combat civil disturbances in the Catatumbo region. Efforts to make the tax permanent in December last year were rejected, with the government attempting another push in the last budget.
Kathryn Evans
Kathryn covers bitesize breaking news with a primary focus on EMEA and US legislation. A proud North Walian, fluent Welsh speaker and lifelong Wrexham FC fan – long before Hollywood came calling.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/gaming/coljuegos-temporary-relief-measures-land-based-operators-affected-earthquake/
