Colombia: Casinos and bingo halls grow by 9%, leading national revenue
Localised games – gambling activities that require players to be physically present in licensed venues – reaffirmed their financial leadership by contributing nearly COP$378.268bn. This traditional segment currently represents 39% of the total collected by the national regulatory body, Coljuegos.
Colombia casino revenue posts sustained growth
The economic landscape of Colombia’s gambling sector recorded sustained growth in the 2025 fiscal year. Bingo halls and casinos, rather than losing ground to newer gambling formats, have considerably increased their market share.
Localised games generated revenues of COP$378.268bn, according to the financial report consolidated by Coljuegos. The official data confirm that land-based establishments remain the source of funding for public health.
This volume of tax contribution positions the land-based segment as the segment that injects the most resources into the subsidised system. The said figure represents a majority portion of the market, accounting for 39% of the industry’s total collection.
Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos, commented on these figures: “In 2024, localised games contributed COP$345.875bn, nearly COP$33.000bn less than last year. This 9.3% increase in transfers to health demonstrates that the industry continues to go through an excellent moment hand in hand with the current Government.”
This nearly COP$33bn increase additionally reinforces the thesis of the stability of the current regulated market. The 9.3% growth exceeds many conservative expectations about the performance of in-person commerce (retail).
Coljuegos’ control and oversight strategies
The increase in revenue is not a random phenomenon, but the direct result of much stricter supervision policies. The current administration has directly linked the effectiveness of its territorial control operations with the increase in collection. The fight against unauthorised operations has redirected previously diverted funds into the legal system. Inter-institutional efforts have focused on cleaning up the market to protect businesses that comply with all regulations.
The strategy deployed covered a considerable geographical extension, managing to intervene in 15 departments of the national territory during 2025. The control actions, which totalled 95 specific interventions, involved seizing elements that did not have the required permits.
The final operational balance shows that authorities seized 3,047 illegal gambling machines. The president of the regulatory entity was emphatic in linking these administrative police actions with the positive financial results presented.
The correlation between legal certainty and economic performance is a factor that investors must consider in their projections.
“This increase in collection would not have been possible without our relentless strategy against illegality. In 2025 only, we seized 3,047 illegal gaming elements in 95 operations carried out in 15 departments: something never seen before in the entity,” indicated Hincapié.
These statements confirm that the strict policy against illegality will be a fundamental component of the administration. The formalisation of the sector remains the most effective method to guarantee the sustainability of transfers to public health. The 3,700 authorised establishments are currently the central axis of an expanding industry.
Modernisation of the portfolio and new business opportunities in Colombia
The forward-looking vision for localised games is not limited to protecting the current market through judicial operations. There is a roadmap to diversify the entertainment offer in authorised casinos and gaming rooms. Coljuegos has put on the table new alternatives so that operators can refresh their value proposition for the customer. One of the most prominent initiatives is the implementation of Bets on Virtual Sports Races/ACDV in physical venues.
Known locally as ACDV(from its Spanish acronym), it aims to attract a wider player base and mobilise room traffic. The objective is that localised games do not limit themselves only to traditional bingo tables or classic slot machines. Operators have the possibility to compete with modern tools without losing the social and in-person character of the experience by incorporating technology to simulate sports. President Hincapié expressed his expectation that this tool will serve to substantially improve the commercial offer available to bettors.
“We hope that this year, with strategies like the Machines for Peace, localised games continue to increase their transfers for the health of the neediest Colombians,” concluded the president of Coljuegos.
Social initiatives and long-term outlook
Coljuegos has introduced a socially focused strategy known as ‘Machines for Peace’, scheduled for rollout this year. While the regulator has not disclosed technical details, the name indicates a direct link between game operation and social welfare. These new dynamics are expected to help sustain the increase in resource transfers for subsidised health of Colombians. Innovation in the product portfolio is thus presented as the next logical step after the consolidation of territorial control.
Together, stronger regulation, product innovation and legal certainty continue to support long-term investment in Colombia’s gambling sector. Localised games have demonstrated that, if properly regulated, they have the potential to continue being the main source of income for the entire gambling industry in Colombia.
This article was first published in Spanish on 27 January 2026.
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