Gaming in Colombia: "The second half of the year brings challenges that will impact the sustainability of the industry"

The National Corporation of Gaming Entrepreneurs (Cornazar) of Colombia stated that the second half of 2025 will bring challenges that will be crucial for the present and future of the gaming industry.

“At Cornazar, we observe that the second half of 2025 will bring challenges that will impact the sustainability and competitiveness of the gaming industry,” said Cornazar President Elizabeth Maya in an interview with Yogonet.

Among the main challenges are regulatory issues, the arrival of new products, and labor challenges, which will define the direction of the industry.

Maya explained that the continued implementation of 19% VAT on online gambling "has created a distortion among users" and has increased a "fairly high" tax burden on these legal companies that have contributed to the state through resources for health care.

According to the executive, these companies have been significantly affected, with some cutting back on advertising investments and reducing staff, among other measures, not only for platforms but also for casinos and bingo halls, due to illegal gambling.

In this context, Cornazar assured that, for the remainder of the current term, it will create spaces to engage in expert dialogue to assess regulatory and labor impacts on both internet-based and localized games.

“At Cornazar, we have expressed in many ways to the National Government that it should thoroughly review this decision, which has impacted these legal betting establishments, first because there is a disincentive to investment, as the perception of regulatory instability affects the arrival of new players and their permanence," said the President of the entity.

Maya believes that this has also created a great deal of uncertainty among players: “Many of them have questioned these decisions by the government, and there is a total lack of understanding as to why and for what purpose this is being done. This has made players uneasy about this regulation, and we know that it could open the door for many betting shops to disappear and for many to turn to illegal gambling," she noted.

𝐄𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐬𝐞𝐫á 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐬 𝐝𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞 𝐲 𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐫. 👇🏼

Los desafíos en temas normativos, la llegada de nuevos productos y los retos laborales definirán el rumbo de la industria. pic.twitter.com/G08BgmKC8w

— Cornazar (@Cornazar2) July 23, 2025

Further challenges

Another challenge mentioned by Cornazar is the onset of the effects of the Labor Reform recently approved in Colombia, which adjusts the working day to 44 hours, increases the Sunday surcharge to 80%, and increases overtime hours after 7:00 p.m.

The association also referred to the regulation of the new sweepstakes decree being worked on by Coljuegos and the National Council of Games of Chance (CNJSA), which was submitted for public consultation this month.

Lastly, Cornazar considered it important to implement betting on virtual races and sports, as well as to continue the fight against illegality.

For Cornazar, being prepared is key to facing challenges and taking advantage of opportunities that arise, so the association will continue "working to represent and support their members on each of these fronts."