Colombia’s gambling regulator Coljuegos has issued nearly 46,000 blocking orders against unlicensed online gambling operators since 2022, marking an unprecedented escalation in enforcement activity that accounts for 83 percent of all such orders issued since the authority’s establishment.

AI-Driven Enforcement Taking Shape

The regulator released the figures in its Official Bulletin No. 25, crediting the dramatic increase to a combination of enhanced enforcement strategy and advanced technology deployment. President Marcos Emilio Hincapié highlighted the role of Coljuegos’ Artificial Intelligence Center in accelerating detection and blocking capabilities, framing the effort as the most decisive action against illegal gambling in Colombian administrative history.

Those figures tell a story. The sheer volume of orders reflects the persistent challenge of unlicensed operators in the region. While the regulated market has grown substantially, illegal alternatives continue to draw Colombian players, prompting regulators to adopt increasingly sophisticated tools for identification and site blocking.

Cooperation With ISPs Streamlines Blocking Process

A significant component of this enforcement push has been collaborative work between Coljuegos and Colombia’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies. The partnership aims to simplify coordination with internet service providers, enabling faster and more effective blocking of unauthorised gambling domains. According to Hincapié, this streamlined approach has proven essential to scaling enforcement operations.

Licensed Market Comprises 15 Operators

Coljuegos currently authorizes 15 licensed operators offering online gambling services in Colombia: Wplay, Bwin, Zamba, Stake, Sportium, FullReto, Luckia, YaJuego, William Hill, Rivalo, MegApuesta, Betsson, BetPlay, Codere, and RushBet. The regulator has emphasized that players using licensed platforms benefit from consumer protections and contribute to healthcare funding for vulnerable populations.

Regulatory Framework Under Legal Pressure

All this enforcement activity sits alongside ongoing legal challenges to Coljuegos’ regulatory framework. In June, Colombia’s Council of State made permanent a partial suspension of the regulator’s 2023 Advertising Resolution, invalidating provisions that restricted marketing expenditure, required annual advertising plans, and mandated quarterly reporting compliance. Legal representatives from Sora Law Firm, which challenged the regulations, characterised the ruling as relief for the licensed operator community, arguing that certain requirements imposed unnecessary administrative burdens.

It’s a tension worth noting. On one side, aggressive action against unlicensed operators. On the other, judicial scrutiny of the rules governing licensed ones. This push and pull between enforcement and regulatory restraint will likely shape Colombia’s iGaming policy in coming months.