Colombia’s gaming regulator Coljuegos has drafted a new resolution to create a Single Registry of Importers and Commercialisers (RIC) for slot machines and other gaming devices, in a move aimed at tackling widespread illegal operation and strengthening tax collection for public health. The proposal would make registration mandatory for any company that wants to import or trade Máquinas Electrónicas Tragamonedas (METs) and other localized gaming elements into the Colombian market.
Coljuegos frames the measure as a direct response to illegal gambling, estimating that more than 104,000 unlicensed machines are operating in the country, with an associated loss of roughly COP 1.0 trillion in revenue for the health system. The draft notes that between 2018 and 2024, Colombia imported around 31,500 METs, 45 per cent of them second-hand, highlighting the need for tighter control over the supply chain from customs clearance to the gaming floor.
Under the project, RIC registrations would be valid for four years and renewable, while importers would need prior authorisation from Coljuegos before bringing METs into the country. Within five business days of nationalisation, each shipment would have to be reported in detail: serial numbers, brand, model, year of manufacture, country of origin, high-resolution photos (front and ID plate), quantities and the intended operator or commercial buyer.
The resolution would also restrict who can acquire METs. Sales and transfers would be limited to licensed operators with an active concession contract, or to entities that prove a legitimate intent to operate games of chance and hold the relevant CIIU 9200 activity code. Coljuegos further plans to integrate its registry with Colombia’s tax and customs authority DIAN, enabling cross-checks between import declarations and the RIC to prevent machines entering or circulating outside the regulated system.
If adopted in its current form, the project would significantly raise compliance requirements for importers but also level the playing field for formal operators, reshaping Colombia’s slot supply chain around traceability and regulatory oversight.
