From the Colombian gaming regulatory body, it was highlighted that the transformation process they have undergone recently has made them more efficient.
Colombia.- Since the implementation of the pre-filing system last August, Coljuegos has reduced response times to requests from operators of localized games by 38 percent. This has allowed, for the first time in history, more than 15,000 electronic slot machines to operate in the country.
In this regard, Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos, said: "Our transformation process of the entity has made us more efficient. Before the pre-filing, those interested in operating localized games had to wait more than 16 days to find out if the documentation presented was complete and whether the procedure was continuing or was rejected."
He added: "We know that the reduction in times has a positive impact for entrepreneurs. Thanks to this strategy, between August and November, we have resolved 338 requests in an average of 10 days, and we have 67 procedures under review that are still within the estimated timeframe according to the pre-filing resolution."
Furthermore, Hincapié stated that the streamlining of procedures has made it possible for there to be 410 operators of localized games and more than 3,700 establishments authorized by Coljuegos. Additionally, there are currently 17,345 bingo seats and 597 casino tables operating in Colombia.
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"Our commitment is to the health of Colombians. The more authorizations we issue, the more we can make transfers to the subsidized regime. This strategy has allowed us to strengthen the industry of localized games and, therefore, reduce illegality," said the president of Coljuegos.
From the entity, it was considered important to highlight that, between January and November, localized games have transferred more than COP319.314m (USD72.5m) to the health system, and represent about 36 percent of the market for games of chance in the country.
Through the Management of Control of Illegal Operations, Coljuegos has open 35 administrative sanctioning processes against influencers and companies that operate raffles and promotions through social networks without the respective authorization and without paying exploitation rights.
Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos, said: "We are investigating natural and legal persons who raffle movable and immovable goods and cash on social networks, but who do not request the authorizations. In addition to incurring a presumed violation of the penal order, these people would be failing to pay resources that are subsequently transferred to the health system."
Among the profiles investigated are companies such as Productos Epa Colombia S.A.S., Grupo Cossio S.A.S., Lechoneitor S.A.S., Supertiendas Olímpica, Javier Arias Stunt, among others.
