In Colombia, the Law 1393 of 2014 provided the obligations of the government to establish the conditions of reliability in the operation of the localized slots, as well as the minimum technical standards and requirements that allow its effective connection online and in real time to identify, process and monitor the amount of the prizes and gross income as the basis for the collection of exploitation rights and administrative expenses. This function was assigned to COLJUEGOS.

As can be seen, the norm established two obligations:

1. Conditions of Reliability
2. Standards and requirements for online connection

The main objective of these rules is to exercise vigilance and control of the operation for the determination of exploitation rights.

In Colombia, COLJUEGOS has advanced in a first phase the process of online connection of the gambling elements that operate in Colombia, however, this project left aside the reliability conditions of the slots machines, which has generated a series of problems when applying the inspection, monitoring and control functions.

To understand the Colombian case, it is important to make some precisions regarding the operation of located slots in Colombia:

- In Colombia there is no technical regulation regarding electronic slot machines, its operation has been allowed without minimum technical conditions.

- Colombia, there is no entry control of the game elements. The only access barrier is that only new machines are allowed and not second.

- There is no registry of manufacturers that allows the State to have control over the circulation of machines and their technical conditions.

All the above generates difficulties in the reliable generation of information (information that is subject to control and inspection) which is transmitted through an online connection system.

The difficulty lies in the fact that the origin of the information that is the game element, due to its technical conditions, does not allow the generated information to be reliable, since it needs external supports (external cards) to communicate the element with the system, which puts at risk to the operator, because as we have seen in the control exercise carried out by COLJUEGOS there are a number of differences that affect the execution of the contract at the end, seeing itself forced to a multiplicity of administrative processes.

Therefore, homologation is a necessary step in the formalization and consolidation of a transparent sector with competitive standards worldwide. In addition, it will allow the information to be reliable and the exercise of control will be consistent with what happens in the operation.

However, this process cannot be done without complying with preconditions for a regulation on the subject, for which a permanent and exhaustive accompaniment must be done to all the documents and pronouncements made by COLJUEGOS, since it cannot be repeated. unpleasant experience of the process of implementing the online connection system. These conditions initially to consider are:

- The technical state of the game elements that are currently operating

- The economic impact of the replacement of the fleet of machines in the concession contracts. In no case could the contractual balance be affected.

- Establish a transition period that allows operators to make the restitution of the park, for which it must be considered: contract times, access to the financial system, replacement value. The schedule must guarantee that the economic equation of the concession contracts and the sustainability of the operation are not affected.

- Have a public registry of manufacturers and allow access to remanufactured items.

- Implement mechanisms that incentivize the legal operation. Today there are about 2000 MET less than those authorized in 2014, which creates a suspicion that these elements of the game are in the illegal market.

- Legal security must be given to operators, with respect to the conditions under which they operate and under which control will be exercised.

Operators should be the main activists in this process, but those actions should be the result of the union of the operators, who should watch over common and not individual interests.

Since its inception with the resolution issued in 2014 and with the first connection that was on October 1, 2015, the online connection was not a pleasant experience for operators, unfulfilled commitments, technical ignorance of MET and operations, as well as the desire to comply with the regulation by COLJUEGOS, at the expense of economic and legal stability, so in this new process, a firm, technical and, above all, united position is necessary to allow the regulation issued adjustment to the national market.

COLJUEGOS sooner than later will issue the regulation on this issue, so denying it or opposing per se, is not the safe way.

The entity and the administration that arrives should it change, should feel the permanent presence of the operators and guilds that represent them, showing the path that must be followed, because leaving them alone or making the debate individually, will most likely lead us to that standards contrary to our interests are issued.

Union / Planning / Execution