Colombia's gaming industry has taken a decisive step toward strengthening its commitment to anti-money laundering (AML) and transparency. In a coordinated effort with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the national gaming regulator Coljuegos is reinforcing risk prevention strategies across the gambling sector.
Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos, emphasized the importance of international collaboration: “We are working with the United Nations to fight corruption. We’ve also signed legality pacts with institutions like the UIAF (Financial Information and Analysis Unit) to guarantee transparency in the health funds we transfer,” he stated.
The initiative, which stems from an agreement signed in 2024, aims to enhance internal controls, strengthen data security, and elevate the role of compliance officers in gambling operations.
“Coljuegos will lead by example by first applying these mechanisms internally,” said Andrea Agudelo, UNODC’s regional head of corruption and economic crimes. “Only after that will they require all licensed operators to implement the same protocols.”
The alliance reflects a broader regional trend in Latin America, where gaming regulators are under increasing pressure to ensure integrity, accountability, and the lawful use of gambling revenues. In Colombia, gambling taxes directly fund the national public health system, adding urgency to safeguarding the system from financial crime.
With this partnership, Colombia positions itself as a regional model for responsible gambling governance—balancing growth with global best practices in financial transparency.
