Sports betting is fully legal and regulated in Colombia under a comprehensive government monopoly framework established at the constitutional level. The Colombian gambling industry operates under Law 643 of 2001 (the Gambling Act), which organizes the administration and control of gaming activities at both national and regional levels (1). At the national level, Coljuegos (Empresa Industrial y Comercial del Estado Administradora del Monopolio Rentístico de los Juegos de Suerte y Azar) serves as the primary regulatory authority responsible for overseeing all forms of gambling, including sports betting operations throughout the country.
Online sports betting was legalized in Colombia in 2016 through the eGaming Act, making Colombia the first Latin American country to comprehensively regulate online gambling activities. Under Colombian regulation, online sports betting is classified as "novel games" and is distinguished from traditional betting by being operated through electronic means via the internet in real time without requiring the physical presence of players (2). The state maintains exclusive rights to organize, administrate, operate, control, inspect, regulate and surveil all gambling modalities, though this monopolistic activity may be authorized and granted in concession to third parties who complete the required authorization process.
"The commercial activity linked to the rendering of these kind of services becomes a part of the state's rental monopoly, which holds the exclusive right to organise, administrate, operate, control, inspect, regulate and surveil all modalities of these kind of games."
Licensed operators must comply with strict regulatory requirements including maintaining a local presence through a Colombian-incorporated company, using local banking services, and adhering to comprehensive anti-money laundering and responsible gambling protocols. Sports betting is geographically limited to within Colombia's borders, meaning operators can only offer services to individuals located within the country (2). The regulated market generates significant revenue for Colombia's public health system, with exploitation rights (royalties) from licensed gambling operations being used to fund health services. Currently, only 16 operators hold valid licenses to provide legal online gambling services, including sports betting, in Colombia.
Source:
https://practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/gaming-law-2024/colombia
https://www.ibanet.org/Online-bets-regime-in-Colombia
Last updated: 24-07-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.