Coljuegos and the Government of Chocó have united to tackle illegal betting. This initiative, led by Colombian regulator Coljuegos, is part of a broader effort to curb criminal structures financed by illegal betting and to bolster the authorised gambling industry.
Earlier in 2024, Coljuegos signed similar agreements with the departments of Tolima, Huila and Sucre.
Marco Emilio Hincapié, President of Coljuegos, stated: “The department of Chocó has great social needs. For this reason, we are committed to pursuing illegality and guaranteeing that health resources reach the territories that need them most. We know that illegal gaming situations occur in Chocó. Municipalities in the San Juan sector are affected by Keno, a game that is not authorised and for which we are working to build regulation. We also see that raffles that operate without authorisation and that go against the provisions of the law are common.”
Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba added: “This is an opportunity for us, together, to fight against illegality and corruption, and to ensure that the resources that come from this monopoly can benefit the well-being of the citizens who need it most. With this pact we are on the path towards legality so that games of luck and chance are an engine for the health of Chocoanos and Chocoanas.”
The financial implications of legal gambling are significant, with sales from authorised games contributing millions to health services in the region.
Commenting on this, Jaime Fernández, legal representative of the Western Services Network, stated: “On average, from January 2023 to April of this year, we have managed to transfer $10m a day for health from chance sales.
“Furthermore, in Chocó we have 280 workers on the payroll and 1,200 independent installers who derive their livelihood from the activity we carry out.”
