Coljuegos destroys nearly 1,500 illegal gambling items valued at $200 million

Colombian gaming regulator Coljuegos announced that it has destroyed a total of 1,491 illegal gambling devices seized since 2021, with a value estimated at close to $200 million.

The destruction, part of Coljuegos' ongoing efforts to combat illegal gambling, took place in Yumbo, Valle del Cauca. According to Coljuegos President Marco Emilio Hincapié, the destroyed items were used in illegal gambling activities across the Valley and in municipalities of the Coffee Region such as Armenia, Dosquebradas, and Manizales.

"We continue to strike illegality with forceful actions. We are telling those who operate games of luck and chance without a concession contract to comply with the law and contribute to the health of Colombians," said Hincapié.

The destroyed materials included 306 electronic slot machines, 538 bingo elements, and 66 sports betting modules. Additionally, during the operation, authorities found $10 million in coins and bills inside the electronic slot machines. These funds, deemed as a judicial deposit in the name of Coljuegos, will be allocated to health initiatives.

Hincapié reiterated Coljuegos' commitment to supporting legal operators through programs like "MET de la paz", aimed at assisting small owners of electronic slot machines in obtaining permits to operate legally.

"We are providing all the facilities to those who do want to be legal. On the other hand, we will continue to be implacable with those who insist on operating without authorization and without providing resources for health," said the president.

Illegal gambling organizations in Colombia are estimated to evade paying about $1.5 billion annually in exploitation rights to the State, funds that could otherwise be allocated to health services for low-income citizens.