The Colombian government of President Gustavo Petro has issued Decree 0240 of 2026, introducing a 16% consumption tax on betting carried out through digital platforms.
Article 1 establishes a national consumption tax on games of chance operated exclusively online as follows: “For the year 2026, numeral 4 shall be added to Article 512-1 of the Tax Statute, which will read as follows: The provision of services of games of luck and chance operated exclusively through the internet.”
According to the document, the taxable base will be constituted by gross gaming revenue (GGR), defined as “the total amount of wagers minus the prizes paid during the corresponding two-month period.”
In this regard, the decree clarifies: “Consequently, those who operate games of luck and chance over the internet will be responsible for the payment of the consumption tax under this concept.”
Among the government’s arguments for introducing the new tax, the decree states that the 2026 national budget includes funding that is “insufficient for the annual forecast allocated to addressing disasters and public calamities,” considering existing budget rigidities and the failure to approve two financing laws.
Additionally, it argues that online games of chance constitute a form of final consumption with “high contributory capacity and sustained growth in gross betting revenue.”
According to the decree, this demonstrates “ample room for taxation without generating significant adverse effects on the sector, in accordance with the principle of tax equity.”
The announcement comes alongside other decrees issued by the government on March 12 to address emergencies caused by heavy rains in different regions of the country. Through these measures, the Colombian government is adding COP 8.6 trillion (approximately USD 2.3 billion) to the revenue and capital resources of the 2026 General Budget of the Nation.
The full text of Decree 0240 can be accessed at the following link.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/03/16/118096-colombian-government-introduces-new-16-tax-on-online-gambling
