Uruguay criticizes Colombia's online gambling policy

"We are working on a project that will deactivate the activity through electronic channels because we have to fight the gaming activity that is currently being exploited unofficially. After applying this document, we can think on granting some more license," he added.

Gama understands that the main thing is to limit the activity that Uruguay is presenting today and stated that the National Directorate of Lotteries is working intensely on the subject. "We must limit this unregulated activity because the resources that are spent are of all Uruguayans, but they do not remain in the country. It is important to think that this problem also happens regionally, and that the only country that has regularized Is Colombia, but has granted an excessive number of licenses."

"Today, the lottery game practically does not exist," he said. Gamma understands that people are attracted to other types of entertainment. "There are only two places in the region where the traditional lottery continues to prevail. The first one is Mexico, but in this country there was a precipitous drop in sales, and the second is Panama. There, the number of spending remains positive because it is the only game that is offered in the market. To make clear the disappearance of the traditional lottery: in the Republic of Argentina, which are more than 40 million people, there is no lottery game,"he explained.

According to his words, the great trigger of this situation is the introduction of the Internet, in which there are many online games of chance. "Internet gambling is appealing to young audiences, who come together and do not want to go to an agency to get a lottery number. So the stakes are taking another course, which means a problem not only for Uruguay but to the world. In addition, with these electronic media, one can play from his own home, so it is not neccesary to move to make a bet. The game via electronic channels is the future. Remember that the online marketplace, in 2000 was non-existent, but in 15 years it has positioned itself as an extremely important way of making bets."

Gamma also said that from the Direction are incorporating new sales modalities to try to make the lottery again an attractive game. "People have already opted for another type of modality."

Source: GMB / LaRepublica.uy