Bogotá D.C. — Through Resolution No. 20250022644, dated October 6, 2025, the Colombian gaming regulator Coljuegos formally announced the creation of its own Judicial Police Unit (UPJ). The move aims to strengthen criminal investigations, operational control, and the pursuit of illegal gambling structures nationwide.
The decision marks a historic milestone for Colombia’s gaming oversight system. For the first time, Coljuegos will operate an internal investigative body with judicial authority under the coordination of the Office of the Attorney General, as provided by Articles 200 and 201 of the Colombian Criminal Procedure Code (Law 906 of 2004).
Structure and Functions
According to the resolution, Coljuegos’ new unit will include officials accredited and trained by the Prosecutor’s Office, who will assume three main roles:
- Conducting investigations and gathering evidence on unauthorized gaming operations.
- Providing technical support in cases of fraud, tax evasion, falsified documentation, or manipulation of betting software.
- Supporting law enforcement in raids, seizures of illegal slot machines, and closures of recurrent offenders.
The unit’s coordinator was appointed directly by Coljuegos’ president, while the names of judicial investigators were withheld in a classified annex for operational security reasons.
Impact on Licensed Operators
For authorized operators, the measure introduces a new era of shared accountability regarding data traceability and operational transparency.
Coljuegos clarified that, although the UPJ’s main focus will be external illegality, the unit may also request technical and accounting records from licensed operators in cases involving unfair competition, underreporting, or manipulation of data submitted to the central monitoring platform (PSL Coljuegos).
“This is not a punitive body but a technical tool to ensure transparency across the legal gaming value chain,” explained a senior operations official, adding that concessionaires are expected to strengthen internal compliance controls to respond promptly to UPJ inquiries.
Crackdown on Illegal Gambling
Illegal gambling accounts for nearly 35 percent of Colombia’s total betting market, according to Coljuegos estimates. In 2024 alone, enforcement actions led to the seizure of 6,500 illegal slot machines and the blocking of 142 unlicensed betting websites.
The new unit seeks to integrate financial, cyber, and criminal intelligence into a single command structure. Cooperation agreements have already been established with the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIAF), the Fiscal and Customs Police (POLFA), the National Tax Authority (DIAN), and the Superintendence of Companies to trace capital flows and dismantle money-laundering networks linked to illegal gambling.
Message to the Legal Industry
Coljuegos’ president emphasized that the measure is designed to protect, not punish, legitimate operators:
“This unit is not an obstacle; it’s a safeguard. Those who comply with the law have nothing to fear. The goal is to level the playing field for those who truly contribute to the country.”
The regulator reminded that in 2024, gaming taxes and licensing fees generated 1.3 trillion COP for Colombia’s public-health system — a figure that could increase by 20 percent through enhanced judicial intelligence and enforcement.
Coljuegos also plans to issue a technical cooperation guide for interaction between the Judicial Police Unit and licensed stakeholders, defining protocols for data delivery, verification, and coordination with manufacturers, online platforms, and venue operators.
A Step Toward Institutional Maturity
This resolution represents a major “Level Up” for Colombia’s regulatory framework — shifting from administrative supervision to full judicial enforcement capacity, positioning Coljuegos as a central player in the state’s economic-security policy.
For compliant operators, it reinforces legal stability and market confidence; for violators, it signals the end of the “grey-zone era.” An unbeatable step toward a clean, transparent, and sustainable gaming ecosystem.
