These machines stopped transferring about COP421m (USD95,660) annually to the subsidized health regime.
Colombia.- The Management of Control of Illegal Operations of Coljuegos seized 60 electronic slot machines that were operating without authorization from the entity in different sectors of the city of Cartagena. These items were valued at more than COP240m (USD54,533).
After the operation, Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos, declared: "Our fight against illegality is constant. During our administration, we have already surpassed 3,300 seized items, a record figure in the history of the entity. We will continue to confront those who operate unauthorized bets and defraud health resources."
According to estimates from the entity, the 60 seized electronic slot machines stopped transferring about COP421m (USD95,660) annually to the subsidized health regime.
"Once removed from the establishments, we will continue with the issuance of commissary orders and, if the illegality of the items is reaffirmed, we will proceed with their respective destruction," Hincapié stated.
And he added: "To date, we have completed a total of 8,317 elements of games of chance destroyed, among which are slot machines, internet betting modules, roulettes, bingo tables and chairs, casino tables, among others. For all these elements, we estimate that the State missed out on more than COP250,000m (USD56.8m) in the last year."
See also: The lotteries of Colombia contributed more than USD41m to health between January and September
Also, Hincapié reiterated that the entity has available to the country's shopkeepers the "MET'S for peace" program, through which it seeks to formalize the operation of slot machines operated by small shopkeepers, all with the aim of strengthening the popular economies in the country.
Those interested in formalizing their slot machines can consult the requirements through the Coljuegos website or through the different service channels of the entity.
During the VII International Congress Against Money Laundering held in the Dominican Republic in October, the president of Coljuegos, Marco Emilio Hincapié, presented to experts from Latin American countries the strategy to fight illegality in the Colombian industry, through which it has been possible to combat the criminal structures that operate unauthorized bets.
The head of the Colombian gaming regulatory body presented the advances in the implementation of the Comprehensive System for the Prevention and Control of Money Laundering, the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (SIPLAFT).
In his presentation, Hincapié said: "This year, the gaming sector will exceed COP1bn (USD229m) in transfers to the health system. That is why we are focusing our efforts on fighting illegality and corruption, and on strengthening the industry."
Among the results presented by the president of the entity are the destruction of 8,317 elements of games of chance that operated illegally in more than 15 departments of the country, and that stopped transferring around COP260,000m (USD59.2m) for health each year.
Also, Hincapié mentioned that, during 2024, the entity has seized 3,200 electronic slot machines, bingos, and internet betting modules that operated without authorization from Coljuegos.
In addition, the entity transferred 366 criminal processes to the Attorney General's Office to investigate those responsible for operating illegal games in Colombia.
On the other hand, it was recently known that, 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.
In addition to the 35 processes, Coljuegos is investigating another 79 social media profiles that operate illegal raffles, but that do not belong to natural or legal persons that can be identified. During the current administration, Coljuegos has issued 7,631 blocking orders to websites that operated bets illegally.
