The Colombian Government’s first signals in response to the consequences of the earthquake are moving in a direction worth recognizing: extraordinary circumstances may also require institutions to consider extraordinary responses.

Although several measures are still being developed, the Ministry of Finance has already indicated its intention to postpone certain tax obligations for taxpayers located in the affected areas. Based on the information available so far, this initiative would be part of a broader package aimed at making it easier for individuals and businesses affected by the emergency to meet their obligations.

It is an important signal.

This is not about eliminating obligations or weakening oversight. It is about recognizing that a business facing physical damage, power outages, connectivity problems, access restrictions or precautionary closures cannot reasonably be expected to operate under exactly the same conditions that apply in normal circumstances.

That principle could also extend to other government agencies.

In Colombia’s gaming industry, Coljuegos® has an opportunity to join this institutional effort by considering temporary mechanisms designed to facilitate the continuity of legally authorized gaming operations in affected areas.

Several alternatives could potentially be evaluated without compromising regulatory oversight: expedited procedures for temporarily relocating gaming machines from affected venues, greater flexibility for certain contractual modifications, exceptional extensions of specific administrative deadlines, or special mechanisms for gaming operations whose connectivity or ability to operate has been disrupted as a direct consequence of the earthquake.

In this context, flexibility does not mean deregulation.

On the contrary, it can help preserve legality, traceability and regulatory oversight while normal operating conditions are restored. A gaming machine that cannot operate because its original venue has been damaged could potentially be relocated to another authorized establishment while maintaining its identification, connectivity and regulatory supervision. Oversight remains intact; what changes temporarily is the speed of the administrative response.

There is also an economic and social dimension.

Behind every authorized gaming establishment are jobs, suppliers, leases and entrepreneurs. In the particular case of games of chance, there is another factor that should not be overlooked: legal gaming operations generate resources for Colombia’s healthcare system.

It is therefore encouraging to see that, as the scale of the emergency becomes clearer, government institutions are already exploring mechanisms to facilitate the recovery of affected individuals and businesses.

It is still early, and additional decisions will undoubtedly follow. But precisely now, as the first measures begin to align, may be the right time for each government agency to examine what it can do within its own legal authority.

Coljuegos® has an opportunity to do just that.

This does not necessarily require major regulatory reforms or extraordinary financial relief. During an emergency, something as practical as allowing a faster machine relocation, temporarily simplifying a procedure or granting a few additional days to meet an administrative requirement may be enough to help a business remain operational, preserve jobs and continue contributing resources to the healthcare system.

If the Government is already signaling a willingness to introduce flexibility in response to exceptional circumstances, it would be reasonable for that same approach to find a place within Colombia’s gaming regulatory framework.

Not to reduce oversight. But to help legal gaming operations continue.