Colombia to chair the International Federation of Games of Chance (FIJA)
Fecoljuegos, Colombia’s non-profit trade association representing gaming operators and suppliers, working to protect industry interests and promote regulatory collaboration, announced the establishment of the International Federation of Games of Chance (Federación Internacional de Juegos de Azar – FIJA). The new gaming organisation aims to “provide a permanent institutional space for dialogue and collaboration,” explained Evert Montero Cárdenas, president of Fecoljuegos, in an exclusive interview with SiGMA News. The federation was established to unite international industrial groups in Latin America, promote international cooperation, and improve the overall representation of the sector.
Guiding principles for genuine and transparent cooperation
Montero Cárdenas emphasised the core principles on which the federation is founded. “Our overarching purpose is to consolidate an international platform,” he said. Among these principles are “respect first and foremost for each country’s autonomy and horizontal equality among members. It also promotes transparency and genuine collaboration, along with confidentiality of information and voluntary, non-profit participation”. He further highlighted the importance of strong commitment to legality and integrity.
These principles promote fairness and trust among the member nations, ensuring that each decision reflects responsibility and democracy while preserving the independence of every state.
LatAm: Driving international integration and modern regulatory frameworks
According to Montero Cárdenas, one of the federation’s main objectives is to “foster regional industry integration and consolidate a network of shared solutions. In this regard, the federation seeks to address matters that affect us all to propose solutions that we can agree upon.” This collaborative approach helps strengthen the sector in the face of everyday challenges.
At the same time, the federation aims to serve as a reference point for operators and to drive modern regulatory frameworks. This entails a firm commitment to regulatory updates that facilitate legal and responsible activity, while also tackling informality. According to Montero Cárdenas, “defending the sector’s common interests, such as combating informality and upholding legality,” is a fundamental pillar of this new organisation.
Digital transformation, social responsibility, and environmental commitment
Another strategic pillar of the federation is to promote digital transformation and innovation, noted the president of Fecoljuegos. With this technological vision, the industry expects to enhance competitiveness and ensure effective control and prevention mechanisms.
In addition, the federation pledges to “review social and environmental commitments to reinforce the sector’s responsibility toward society and the environment”. This comprehensive approach acknowledges that the industry must go beyond revenue generation and take on an active role in sustainable development.
International cooperation as a key to legality and sustainability
Ultimately, the federation was created to unify efforts against global challenges. Montero Cárdenas stressed that the main goal is “to agree on how to pursue shared objectives that affect all industries and the entire sector everywhere on an international level.” This viewpoint emphasises how crucial efficient collaboration is to upholding common interests and advancing the law.
Therefore, this non-profit entity will make it possible to develop joint strategies based on legality, transparency, and collaboration. In doing so, Colombia establishes itself as a key player in building strong international industry alliances. All members are now signing the formal declaration, which will be released in the coming days.
This article was first published in Spanish on 4 September 2025.
