Coljuegos has introduced a set of temporary relief measures aimed at assisting land-based operators and concessionaires affected by the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck on August 10. These measures are intended to expedite the recovery of damaged gaming terminals and sales outlets while maintaining existing tax and fee obligations.
Outlined in Resolution No. 20260019544, released last week, these provisions apply specifically to land-based operators and facilities. They encompass sales points and equipment that have sustained verified physical damage due to the earthquake. Coljuegos specified that operators experiencing only a revenue decline will not qualify for the relief; eligibility will depend on rigorous verification and continuous monitoring by the regulator.
Among the support measures, affected operators will be allowed to request either express or automatic transfers of gaming equipment from damaged locations to authorized ones. Additionally, venues that suffered severe impact from the earthquake will temporarily be designated as "zero premises" without jeopardizing their operational status. This approach emphasizes the regulator's commitment to ensuring operational continuity for both land-based and localized gaming activities.
Coljuegos has established a four-month timeframe, which may be extended once, for operators to either replace or restore their minimum required gaming equipment. The regulator will also streamline the approval process for new sites where the original premises were destroyed.
Land-based gambling plays a significant role in Colombia's economy. Last year, operators of land-based casinos and bingo establishments contributed COP378.3 billion ($104.8 million) to the country's healthcare system.
For national lottery games, specific adjustments have been made. For the Baloto lottery, operators may temporarily disregard verified point and terminal unavailability from certain performance metrics, and they can rearrange visits, tests, replacements, and deployment deadlines in affected regions. Post-event consolidated reporting may be allowed.
In regards to Super Astro, licensees can have terminal outages documented and recognized for the affected duration. They can also provide regularized data later and work under modified repair schedules. Furthermore, for KENO, adjustments to deployment, testing, and acceptance timelines will be permitted, alongside the temporary exclusion of impacted points.
Online gaming operators are generally expected to continue adhering to established schedules for transmission, reporting, declarations, settlements, and payments. However, Coljuegos indicated that operators can seek case-by-case relief if they can substantiate a direct and material inability to meet their obligations due to earthquake-related disruptions. The regulator will prioritize requests for changes in draw dates, locations, promotional periods, and operational processes for raffles and promotional games to protect consumer rights and ensure business continuity.
Importantly, the regulator made clear that these relief measures do not equate to a waiver of fees or taxes. Recently, the outgoing Colombian president forwarded a new tax reform bill to Congress, seeking to implement a permanent 19% VAT for online gambling operators. This tax, initially imposed on an emergency basis in February 2025, was enacted as the government sought additional resources to address civil unrest in the Catatumbo region. Previous attempts to entrench the tax in December were rejected, and the government is attempting to advance this measure in the latest budget proposals.
