VIE 29 DE MARZO DE 2024 - 05:28hs.
A COLJUEGOS PROCEDURE

Colombia: Crackdown on illegal sports betting

Gaming Control Board of Colombia (Coljuegos) has carried out a major crackdown on illegal sports betting centres. During the proceedings twelve illegal venues were found to be operating in the districts of Gualanday and Achícala, with a total of 92 computers removed.

With the support of the Colombian National Army and Technical Investigation Corps (CTI) of the Prosecutor’s office the board carried out a number of checks and raids in the city of Neiva, in the administrative department of Huila.

The Head of Coljuegos Juan Pérez Hidalgo, said the crackdown will continue with the help of the Prosecutors office, the national army as well as the National Police. He also said that it was part of a larger strategy aimed at raising awareness that revenue generated by the gaming industry provides vital funding for national health programmes.

"We invite all citizens to ensure the legality of the establishments that they visit as when they are not legal there are no guarantees when it comes to the paying out of prizes,” he said.

The crackdown comes after it was revealed last month that revenues for the gaming board were on the rise. During a sports integrity conference held by Genius Sports in partnership with the board in Bogota, Hidalgo announced that the gaming sector in Colombia was going through a "good moment” and that the positive results of the board in 2016 were in part due to the increased powers of the board itself.

According to Hidalgo, revenue for the board generated by operating rights and VAT increased by as much as US$ 500 million, a growth of 27.5 % in 2016 compared to 2015.

Source: GMB / G3 Newswire