Latin America’s gaming industry placed Bogotá at the center of the regional regulatory agenda on May 5, 2026, during the 10th Ibero-American Gaming Summit, held at the Hotel Marriott Bogotá, where regulators, operators and industry executives discussed the future of gaming regulation, technology, legality and market expansion across Ibero-America.
The official agenda began with a welcome session hosted by Coljuegos from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Turquesa Hall, followed by a private regulators meeting coordinated by Colombia’s state gaming authority. A working lunch and workshop later took place in the Amatista Hall, focused on sharing the vision of Ibero-American regulators and discussing the challenges shaping the sector.
The summit reinforced Colombia’s growing influence in the Latin American gaming market, particularly as one of the region’s most advanced regulatory jurisdictions for online gambling, enforcement and responsible gaming. Colombia remains the first country in Latin America to regulate online gaming nationally, positioning Coljuegos as a regional reference point for licensing, AML controls and market oversight.
In that context, Coljuegos President Marco Emilio Hincapié spoke in an exclusive interview with Mundo Video about industry growth, the fight against illegal gambling, technology, banking access and regional cooperation.
Marco Emilio Hincapié – president of Coljuegos
Asked about the proposal for an Ibero-American lottery focused on protecting the Amazon, Hincapié explained that the initiative seeks to turn gaming into a global environmental financing mechanism involving CELAC countries and European nations, potentially reaching more than 800 million adult citizens. According to the proposal, 50% of proceeds would support Amazon climate protection initiatives.
On Colombia’s gaming outlook for 2026, Hincapié stated that the country’s primary challenge remains increasing health transfers and strengthening enforcement against illegal gambling. He revealed that Coljuegos moved from generating approximately COP 680.000 million in gaming transfers when the current administration began to a projected COP 1.3 billion in 2026. He also stated that approximately 44% of all historical Coljuegos revenues since 2012 were generated during the current administration, totaling roughly COP 4.2 billion.
The Coljuegos president also highlighted technological expansion, including the rollout of Keno and modernization of Colombia’s raffle market, while emphasizing ongoing coordination with the Financial Superintendency regarding banking access for licensed gaming operators.
The summit underscored how Colombia is increasingly shaping the broader Ibero-American gaming conversation around regulation, legality, digital growth and cross-border cooperation, at a time when Latin America continues to emerge as one of the fastest-growing regulated gaming regions globally.
