Coljuegos, the Colombian gambling regulator, has created a registry designed to combat the importation of illegal slot machines into the country.
From 2026, electronic slot machines will need to be registered before they are imported into Colombia.
With this in mind, Coljuegos on Friday announced it had published Resolution 8594 of 2025, creating the Single Registry of Importers and Distributors (RIC).
Importers and distributors will have 45 days from the resolution’s publication on 26 January to register.
Coljuegos said it aims to “strengthen control over the entry and sale of electronic slot machines (METS)”, restricting the importation of illegal slots.
The regulator’s president, Marco Emilio Hincapié Ramírez, said this was a necessary move to protect the licensed land-based industry in Colombia, as well as the nation’s healthcare sector, which receives much of gambling’s tax contributions.
“The creation of the RIC is fundamental to controlling the import and marketing of slot machines entering the country, and to stop the illegal activity that is so damaging to health revenues,” Hincapié stated.
Land-based the main contributor to Colombian healthcare
In late-January, Coljuegos revealed land-based gambling sent COP378.3 billion ($104.8 million) to the Colombian healthcare system in 2025, a 9.3% year-on-year rise.
The COP378.3 billion also accounted for 39% of the total revenue collected in the Colombian gambling industry.
According to Coljuegos, Colombia has approximately 109,000 licensed slot machines in over 3,700 authorised venues.
The prevalence of slot machines in Colombia meant stronger regulation was required to ensure legality, Hincapié’s insisted.
“It is important to highlight that METS imports exceeded $22.5 million in 2024, reflecting the size of the market and the urgency of strengthening oversight,” he explained.
Importers and distributors can access the RIC form through the Coljuegos website.
Within 10 days of the slots being cleared through customs, importers must inform Coljuegos of each machine’s destination.
Hincapié explained the process would be conducted in collaboration with the National Directorate of Taxes and Customs, ensuring all equipment is licensed so the correct tax allocations reach the healthcare system.
VAT for online gambling on hold in Colombia
The stricter oversight on imports for land-based gambling comes at an interesting time for the Colombian betting sector, with uncertainty over the tax scenario facing online operators.
On 29 January, the Colombian Constitutional Court suspended Decree 1390, which included a 19% value-added tax (VAT) on GGR from online gambling.
Decree 1390 had declared a “state of economic and social emergency” in Colombia, but the court raised concerns over whether the situation met the threshold required to invoke emergency powers.
Its suspension means online gambling is once again only subject to the standard 15% GGR tax rate, with Sora Lawyers managing partner Juan Camilo Carrasco explaining it may be tough for the government to reintroduce the 19% VAT.
In his view, the most likely outcome is that the VAT exemption prevails, especially in an election year and considering the court’s reservation over whether emergency powers are required.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/casino-games/slots/colombian-gambling-regulator-creates-registry-combat-illegal-slot-machines/
