This week, the Colombian regulatory authority Coljuegos held a regional outreach meeting in Armenia, Quindío Province, aimed at promoting the development of legal gambling and strengthening the crackdown on illegal gambling activities. The meeting brought together representatives from the national police, the Quindío lottery regulatory department, licensed operators, and local businesses and merchants.
According to Coljuegos, the Quindío region has received about 180 reports of suspected illegal gambling. The regulatory authority emphasized that cracking down on illegal gambling is crucial for protecting public health funds, which come from taxes on legal gambling. Luis Alfredo Escobar, the Vice President of Operations at Coljuegos, stated that the agency will continue to serve all regions, especially remote areas, to promote the legalization of gambling.
Police representatives promised to continue providing training and coordination support to combat criminal groups that rely on funds from illegal gambling. Coljuegos also announced that it has enhanced its enforcement capabilities to more effectively curb illegal gambling.
Meanwhile, the closed gambling operator FullReto's licensed owner, Grupo Vinnare, has begun refunding users through the trust institution Fiduprevisora. The first batch of compensation covered 71 players, amounting to about 47 million Colombian pesos (approximately $11,600). The platform's license will expire in December 2024, after which it will cease operations.
