Coljuegos creates a Single Registry of Importers and Marketers to control the entry of slot machines

Coljuegos, Colombia’s gambling regulator, announced the creation of the Single Registry of Importers and Marketers (Registro Único de Importadores y Comercializadores, RIC) to strengthen oversight of the import and sale of electronic slot machines (METS) and curb illegal gambling.

As a result, starting in 2026, slot machines will be required to be registered before being imported into the country, with the aim of “monitoring the destination of these gaming elements and preventing their acquisition by structures operating without authorization.” The RIC was established through Resolution 8594/2025.

Coljuegos President Marco Emilio Hincapié said the new regulation was “a long-standing need for Colombia’s land-based gaming sector.”

“The creation of the RIC is essential to control the importation and commercialization of slot machines entering the country and to shut down illegality, which causes significant harm to health revenues,” he stated.

In 2025, land-based gaming consolidated its position as the main contributor to the subsidized health system, with transfers totaling COP 378.268 billion, representing 39% of the sector’s total collections. Currently, around 109,000 legal slot machines are operating in more than 3,700 authorized establishments.

“It is important to note that imports of METS exceeded USD 22.5 million in 2024, reflecting the size of the market and the urgency of strengthening oversight,” Hincapié added.

Under the regulatory framework, importers and marketers will have 45 calendar days to register in the RIC, starting from the publication of Resolution 20260001234 on January 26, 2026.

The process must be completed via a form available on the Coljuegos website. In addition, within 10 days of the nationalization of the merchandise, importers must inform the regulator of the destination of each gaming device.

“This process will be carried out in coordination with the National Directorate of Taxes and Customs (DIAN), allowing for the validation of slot machine imports and their components, ensuring that all equipment operating in the country is properly controlled and that resources effectively reach the public health system,” Hincapié concluded.