Illegal gaming in Colombia is the worst threaten for the stability of the companies of the sector

"The great evolution and business transformation that this industry shows today in Colombia is no doubt due to the isolated effort of businessmen, fighting alone to face many difficulties and bearing the consequences of an environment which is too hostile with its activity," pointed Medina.

Head of FECEAZAR said that, "On top of the good intentions of the businessmen, this activity is obtaining an economic downturn in some modalities, due to several difficulties that are being presented in the operation, while solutions do not appear."

However, of all the problems that the industry currently faces in the country, Medina said that "the boom of the illegal operation in all kinds to games in recent years is, no doubt, the worst threaten for the stability of the companies."

"While illegal gaming does not have control, it is more and more difficult for the government to assure a constant transference of funds to the health sector, because the businessmen are finding some results in their operations that are under the estimated calculations, considerably affected by illegal gaming," said the businessman.

When talking about the role of the government as regulator of the activity, Medina made a request to national and regional authorities saying that "If we add to this discouraging scenario some government demands that do not consider the market reality and the business possibilities, the situation is even worse. Anyway - he pointed- our message in that sense does not aim to oppose to such decisions."

"That's why we expect the state to assume with more decision the role it must comply in the whole process, not only as a regulator of the activity but as owner of the empire, which requires some reasonable rules, attached to the reality of the environment and the market, considering that the activity is affected by a series of external causes that are beyond the operators' control," explained Baltazar Medina.

Finally, the head of the entity concluded his speech calling for unity and commitment. "We ratify the commitment of the trade union to support the measures boosted by the government because they are positive and because the sector needs to improve its image and achieve the social recognition we think we deserve."