Colombia was the first country in Latin America to license online casinos and sports betting. Online games of chance are a state monopoly administered by Coljuegos, which grants concession contracts to private operators and acts against sites that operate without one. This guide explains how the system works, how to check whether a site is authorised, the risks of unauthorised sites, how prizes are taxed and where to find help.
Is online gambling legal in Colombia?
Yes, at authorised operators. Games of chance in Colombia are a state monopoly under Ley 643 de 2001. Article 93 of Ley 1753 de 2015 added games operated over the internet to the games Coljuegos may grant, and in 2016 Coljuegos approved the regulation for online games through Acuerdo 04 de 2016. Since then, companies that sign a concession contract with Coljuegos and meet its technical and financial requirements may offer online casino games and sports betting.
Operating games of chance without authorisation is illegal, and so is promoting it. Coljuegos has ordered thousands of illegal gambling websites blocked, has asked social media platforms to remove hundreds of accounts that promoted unauthorised betting and raffles, and has opened sanctioning proceedings against influencers and companies.
Gambling is only for adults. Minors may not play, and authorised operators must verify your identity when you open an account.
Who regulates online casinos in Colombia?
Coljuegos is the state-owned company that administers the monopoly on games of chance at national level. It grants concession contracts, approves the games and platforms operators use, collects the fees operators pay and supervises compliance. Online operators pay Coljuegos at least 17% of their gross gaming revenue plus a fixed fee set in the law.
Blocking is carried out with the Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MinTIC). Since 2025, internet providers have been able to execute Coljuegos' blocking orders directly, which has sped up the process. Tax on prizes is handled by the national tax authority, DIAN.
How do you check whether an online casino is authorised in Colombia?
An authorised operator shows the Coljuegos logo and the number of its concession contract on its website, usually in the footer, and authorised sites normally use a .co domain. Coljuegos publishes the list of authorised online operators and their web addresses on coljuegos.gov.co. Comparing the two is the only reliable check, because a logo or a contract number can be copied onto any site.
- Find the Coljuegos logo, the operator's name and the contract number on the casino's website.
- Open the list of authorised online operators on coljuegos.gov.co.
- Check that the operator is listed and that the exact web address you are using appears with it.
- Make sure the site asks for your cédula and verifies your identity before you can withdraw.
- If the site is not on the list, do not register or deposit, and you can report it to Coljuegos.
What are the risks of unauthorised online casinos?
Many sites that accept Colombian players have no Coljuegos contract and operate from abroad. On these sites Coljuegos cannot help if a withdrawal is refused, an account is closed or bonus terms are applied unfairly, and enforcing Colombian consumer protection against a company with no presence in the country is difficult.
Illegal sites can be blocked at any time, which can leave your balance out of reach. They do not withhold Colombian tax on prizes, so declaring your winnings falls entirely on you, and they are not bound by Colombian rules on age checks, self-exclusion or responsible gambling.
- No Coljuegos oversight or complaint route
- Sites can be blocked, leaving your balance out of reach
- No tax withheld, so declaration falls entirely on you
- No obligation to offer self-exclusion or verify age
Which payment methods do Colombian players use?
Authorised operators usually accept PSE online bank transfers, the digital wallets Nequi and Daviplata, cash payments at Efecty and similar networks, and Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, all in Colombian pesos. Withdrawals normally go to a bank account or wallet in your own name.
The fact that a site accepts these methods does not mean it is authorised. Always check the operator on the Coljuegos list first.
Do you pay tax on online casino winnings in Colombia?
Yes. Prizes from games of chance count as an occasional gain (ganancia ocasional) and are taxed at 20%. When a prize exceeds 48 UVT, the operator withholds the 20% before paying you. Prizes below that threshold are paid in full, but they are still taxable income.
If your occasional gains over the year exceed the reporting thresholds set by DIAN, you must include them in your annual income tax return. Since 2025 online gambling has also been subject to 19% VAT; how the tax is calculated has been adjusted since it was introduced, so check the cashier of your operator to see whether any amount is deducted from deposits.
How can you protect yourself and where can you get help?
Colombia does not have a single national self-exclusion register for online gambling. Instead, every authorised operator must offer a clear self-exclusion option and keep its own register of excluded players. More than 245,000 people requested self-exclusion from online gambling sites between 2024 and 2025. You can also set deposit and time limits in your account before you start playing.
If gambling is affecting your finances, work or family, talk to someone. The Ministry of Health's LĂnea 106 offers free psychological support and crisis care 24 hours a day and can refer you to specialised services. Your EPS can also refer you to mental health and addiction treatment.
- LĂnea 106: free mental health support, 24 hours
- Self-exclusion at each authorised operator
- Deposit and time limits in your casino account
- Your EPS for referral to treatment
Myths vs facts
- Myth: Any casino that accepts PSE or Nequi is authorised in Colombia.
- Fact: Payment methods are not proof of authorisation. Check the operator and its web address on the Coljuegos list.
- Myth: Small casino prizes are tax free.
- Fact: Prizes below 48 UVT are paid without withholding, but they are still occasional gains that may need to be declared.
- Myth: A Coljuegos logo in the footer is enough proof.
- Fact: Logos can be copied. Confirm that the exact web address appears on the official list on coljuegos.gov.co.
- Myth: Self-exclusion at one site covers every casino in Colombia.
- Fact: There is no national register for online gambling. You need to request self-exclusion at each operator.
Before you claim
- Coljuegos logo and contract number shown on the site
- Operator and exact website found on the Coljuegos list
- Identity verified with your cédula
- Deposit and time limits set before you play
- Withholding certificates kept for your tax return
- Withdrawals only to an account in your own name
- LĂnea 106 saved for support