Resolution No. 20260019544 provides temporary operational flexibility but does not waive gambling duties or administrative fees
The measures are intended to help damaged gambling businesses restore their operations without removing the financial obligations that fund Colombia’s public healthcare system.
Coljuegos introduced the exceptional arrangements following the earthquake that struck western Colombia on 10 August. They cover authorised operators, premises, sales outlets, terminals and gaming equipment that can demonstrate a direct connection between the disruption and the earthquake.
A reduction in sales alone will not qualify an operator for relief. Each applicant must provide evidence of physical or operational damage and will remain subject to the regulator’s monitoring and control procedures.
The measures established under Resolution No. 20260019544 vary according to the type of gambling operation.
Relief for casinos and localised gaming
Operators of localised games can use expedited or automatic procedures to move gaming equipment from damaged premises to other authorised locations.
Coljuegos will allow an affected establishment to remain temporarily classified as a “zero premises” without losing its authorisation or being treated as in breach of its concession contract.
Operators will have four months to replace damaged or lost equipment and restore the minimum number of authorised machines or other gaming elements. That period may be extended once if the circumstances causing the disruption continue.
The regulator will also accelerate applications for replacement equipment and the authorisation of new premises when existing locations have been destroyed.
Online operators retain existing schedules
Operators of internet games must generally continue meeting their existing deadlines for data transmission, reporting, declarations, settlement and payment.
Coljuegos said online operations usually rely on centralised platforms and technology systems that may remain functional even when individual physical locations are affected.
However, the regulator may examine exceptional requests individually when an operator can demonstrate a direct and material connection between the earthquake and its inability to meet a particular obligation.
Measures for Baloto, Súper Astro and KENO
The provisions for Baloto, Súper Astro and KENO focus on sales outlets and terminals directly affected by the emergency.
Baloto may temporarily exclude the verified unavailability of damaged outlets and terminals from certain contractual performance indicators. Visits, testing, replacements and deployment schedules in affected municipalities may also be rescheduled, while consolidated reports can be submitted later.
Súper Astro operators may receive recognition for periods when outlets and terminals were unavailable. Coljuegos may also permit the later regularisation of data files and daily closing records and establish special schedules for repairing or reactivating terminals.
For KENO, the regulator may reschedule deployment, testing and acceptance milestones. It may also exclude affected outlets temporarily from certain indicators, establish revised recovery schedules and allow transactional reports to be regularised later.
Priority processing for raffles and promotional games
Applications to modify authorised raffles will receive priority where the applicable rules permit changes.
Possible adjustments include the date or location of a draw, the sales period and its operating mechanism. Coljuegos may authorise an alternative date or process when necessary, while protecting the rights of people who have already purchased valid entries.
Requests concerning promotional games will also be prioritised when organisers need to modify the duration of a promotion, the date or location of a draw, its mechanics or the prize plan because of the emergency.
Financial obligations remain in force
The temporary measures do not provide for the forgiveness, repayment or cancellation of gambling duties or administrative fees.
Amounts collected through these obligations will continue to be allocated to Colombia’s healthcare system. Operators must document the effects of the earthquake and comply with any subsequent verification requirements imposed by Coljuegos.
