Coljuegos has launched a series of temporary relief measures to assist land-based operators and concessionaires affected by the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck on August 10.
These initiatives aim to facilitate the swift recovery of business operations, impacting sales points, gaming terminals, and promotional activities, while keeping tax and fee obligations intact.
As stated in Resolution No. 20260019544, issued last week, the measures pertain solely to land-based operators and establishments. They will cover points of sale and equipment that experienced verified physical damage from the earthquake. Coljuegos made it clear that simply experiencing a drop in revenue will not automatically qualify an operator for relief. Eligibility will be closely monitored and verified by the regulating authority.
To prioritize operational continuity, affected operators will be allowed to request swift or automatic transfers of gaming equipment from damaged locations to other authorized sites. Additionally, facilities severely impacted can temporarily be designated as "zero premises" without losing their operational license.
Coljuegos also proposes a four-month period, which can be extended once, for operators to replace or restore the minimum necessary gaming equipment. Expedited authorizations for establishing new sites where original premises were destroyed will also be granted, along with simplified approval processes for new gaming equipment.
Land-based gambling remains a vital component of the Colombian economy. In the previous year, land-based casino and bingo operations contributed COP378.3 billion ($104.8 million) to the national healthcare system.
Specific accommodations have been made for national lottery games. For Baloto, operators may temporarily disregard verified point and terminal unavailability from certain contractual obligations. They can also postpone visits, testing, replacements, and deployment deadlines in affected regions, with consolidated reporting allowed after events.
In the case of Super Astro, licensees can have documented terminal outages recognized for the affected duration, submit regularized information later, and operate with adjusted schedules for repairs and reactivation. Similarly, for KENO, modified deployment, testing, acceptance timelines, and the temporary exclusion of impacted points will be permitted.
In contrast, online gaming operators must continue to comply with established transmission, reporting, and payment schedules due to centrally managed systems. However, Coljuegos may grant exceptional relief based on evidence of direct disruptions related to the earthquake.
Coljuegos will prioritize amendments to draw dates, locations, marketing periods, and procedures for raffles and promotional events to ensure consumer rights and business continuity are safeguarded.
Importantly, the regulator reiterated that these measures do not imply any waivers of fees or taxes. Recently, the outgoing Colombian president presented a new tax reform bill to Congress, proposing a permanent 19% VAT for online gambling operators. This VAT was initially introduced as an emergency measure in February 2025, citing the need for additional funds to address civil unrest in the Catatumbo region. An attempt to make this tax permanent was rejected last December, but the government is pushing for it again in the latest budget proposal.
