The Santa Marta businessman takes charge of the regulator as it confronts illegal gambling, digital-market oversight and healthcare funding
His arrival brings a private-sector profile to an authority responsible for supervising Colombia’s land-based and online gambling markets.
Jaime Vives Pinedo has been appointed president of Coljuegos, succeeding Marco Emilio Hincapié as head of the national gambling regulator.
Colombian media reported that the appointment was formalised through Decree 1189 of 2026.
Vives Pinedo comes from Santa Marta and has worked in business and trade organisations across the Magdalena department. His experience includes links to Grupo Biocosta and Biocosta Green Energy.
He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Santa Marta Chamber of Commerce for Magdalena, representing Biocosta Green Energy S.A.S.
The appointment marks his move from the private sector into Colombia’s national public administration.
Regulatory and enforcement responsibilities
Coljuegos administers the state-controlled gambling sector and regulates several forms of gaming. These include localised games, online gambling, Baloto, Súper Astro, KENO, national raffles and promotional games.
The regulator also monitors operators’ compliance with their contractual and financial obligations and leads enforcement action against unauthorised premises, machines and websites.
One of Vives Pinedo’s main responsibilities will be protecting the collection of gambling duties paid by authorised operators. These resources provide funding for Colombia’s healthcare system.
His administration will also face the continuing expansion of digital gambling and the need to identify and block platforms operating in the country without authorisation.
Other priorities facing Coljuegos include strengthening technological supervision, maintaining legal certainty for licensed operators and improving controls against illegal land-based and online activity.
The industry will now await details of Vives Pinedo’s regulatory priorities, senior management team and approach to the development of Colombia’s regulated gambling market.
