The Colombian gambling regulatory authority Coljuegos has recently intensified its crackdown on illegal gambling, conducting joint law enforcement actions in the provinces of Cundinamarca and Santander, seizing a total of 96 unauthorized gambling devices, including slot machines and online betting terminals.
The regulatory body estimates that these illegal devices cause the national healthcare system to lose about 500 million Colombian pesos (approximately $121,000) annually.
Marco Emilio Hincapié, the president of Coljuegos, stated: "This operation has created a historic achievement, as no government has ever fought against the misappropriation of national healthcare subsidy resources by illegal gambling on such a large scale." Since the current government took office, Coljuegos has seized more than 5,580 illegal gambling devices, including slot machines, bingo equipment, poker tables, and online betting terminals.
The enforcement also extended to the Armenia region, where 19 unauthorized slot machines were dismantled, and a venue operating online games through an unregulated platform was shut down. Simultaneously, similar actions were carried out in regions like La Tebaida, Cundinamarca, and Girón, confiscating a total of 1,242 illegal gambling devices, all without Coljuegos' permission.
These vigorous measures are a key component of Coljuegos' ongoing efforts to clean up the illegal gambling market. Last year, the agency also collaborated with the government of Chocó to jointly combat illegal gambling, striving to protect the legal gambling environment and public resources, and prevent illegal gambling from damaging the national economy and society.
