After so many difficult vicissitudes that we had to face in recent times who proudly belong to the social gambling industry in Colombia, we started this year with full optimism and with the certainty that we will be able to work in perfect harmony with the officials in charge of the management and control of the rent-seeking monopoly, without the interferences of revivals with or without uniforms, for the benefit of all Colombians, especially for those who belong to the most unprotected sectors of the country.

We have good reasons to be optimistic: first of all, it is very clear that our industry, because it is of own income, cannot be constitutionally applied other taxes such as VAT, as was intended recently, affecting the necessary legal stability.

Second, with the capture of the group of extortionist police officers and the strong pronouncement of their commander, the agents were notified that their mission in this field is limited to lending support to the authorized officers for the respective control of the games and who under no circumstances can continue to come to the casinos on their own initiative to demand licenses and other documents, with clearly illegal purposes.

Third, the bank begins to understand, that is not discriminating against the gambling operators as it is fought the money laundering and that all that witch hunt has obeyed an infamous demonization campaign promoted by dark characters from the shades.

With a more agile and flexible legislation; some officials who, instead of cornering, adequately advise entrepreneurs; an adequate awareness campaign against illegality; a permanent action that keeps the corrupt policemen at bay, who thrive on illegality and seek any pretext to deprive citizens of the emoluments of their daily work; adequate banking with their respective controls and, the demonstrated social sensitivity of the operators that generate productive jobs and substantial resources for health, we can achieve the full normalization of our productive activities in an industry that every day is modernized and committed to the future Of the homeland.

For all this I consider that this is definitely ... the year of hope