Colombia’s gambling regulator Coljuegos has introduced a temporary support package for operators whose land-based businesses, terminals and sales points were directly affected by the earthquake that struck the country on 10 August. The measures are intended to help companies restore operations while keeping their core financial obligations to the state intact.
The framework was established through Resolution No. 20260019544 and applies only where operators can demonstrate a direct link between earthquake damage and their inability to operate normally. A decline in revenue alone will not qualify a business for assistance.
Land-based operators receive operational flexibility
For casinos and other localised gambling businesses, Coljuegos is allowing expedited or automatic transfers of gaming equipment from damaged properties to other authorised venues.
Operators can also temporarily keep severely affected establishments classified as “zero premises” without losing their authorisation or being treated as contractually non-compliant. Businesses will generally have four months to restore or replace the minimum number of required gaming machines, with the possibility of one extension if disruption continues.
Approval procedures for replacement equipment will be accelerated, while operators whose premises were destroyed will receive faster processing when seeking authorisation for alternative locations. The measures reflect the regulator’s focus on maintaining activity in Colombia’s land-based market, which remains an important contributor to public healthcare funding.
Lottery and number-game requirements adjusted
Coljuegos has introduced separate arrangements for Baloto, Super Astro and KENO where terminals or retail points have been directly disrupted.
Baloto operators will be able to temporarily remove confirmed unavailable terminals and outlets from certain contractual performance calculations. Visits, technical tests, equipment replacements and rollout schedules can also be rescheduled in affected municipalities, while consolidated reports may be submitted later.
Super Astro operators can have verified terminal outages recognised for the affected period and subsequently regularise files and end-of-day records. Special schedules may also be established for terminal repairs and reactivation.
For KENO, deployment, testing and acceptance milestones can be moved, affected locations may temporarily be excluded from selected performance indicators and transactional reports can be regularised later.
Raffle and promotional-game operators will also receive priority consideration for requests to change draw dates, locations, marketing periods, operating mechanisms or prize plans when disruption can be traced to the earthquake. Any changes must continue to protect customers who have already purchased valid entries.
Online operators largely remain on normal schedules
The approach is more limited for internet gambling companies because their platforms and core technology are centrally managed.
Coljuegos said online operators will generally remain subject to existing deadlines for data transmission, reporting, declarations, settlements and payments. Exceptions may be considered individually where an operator can prove that earthquake-related disruption directly and materially prevented compliance.
The regulator had initially begun assessing potential relief after the earthquake caused damage and connectivity problems across affected areas, including interruptions that complicated real-time reporting by gambling businesses.
Industry association Fecoljuegos has meanwhile launched a fundraising initiative aimed at supporting gambling businesses and communities affected by the disaster.
Coljuegos stressed that none of the temporary measures cancel or refund exploitation rights, administrative fees or other payments allocated to Colombia’s healthcare system. Relief remains conditional on documented earthquake damage and will be subject to continued regulatory monitoring.