Colombia to Resume Gambling Operations with Some Restrictions

The Colombian Government has decided to end the shutdown and allow gambling businesses to resume operations with specific restrictions.

Moreover, under the “Decreto 576 de 2020” order, operators will be given leniency in relation to the payment of obligations and the importation of used machines, as long as they are certified, will also be allowed.

According to section 2 of the Decreto 576 order, gambling operators must join efforts with industry regulators and health authorities to adopt measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Such facilities shall have to abide by the social distancing and capacity limit measures that are put in place by the Ministry of Health and the Colombian gambling authority.

In this way, gambling operations are slowly resuming in Colombia and facilities will be reopened once the specific restrictions and limitations are outlined by the health are gambling authorities of the country.

During 2020 and 2021, the administrative gambling authorities will be allowed to use the resources derived from unclaimed prizes, specifically the 25% of that amount that currently goes to anti-illegal gambling efforts, to “guarantee the fulfillment of contractual obligations”, as well as other control, transfer, and collection duties, and for the development of new games.

Moreover, as part of the authorities’ efforts to help operators tackle the difficulties derived from the shutdown, the contractual year, which included the months between March and December 2020, will not be taken into account in the fulfillment of some specific gross income and minimum income tax obligations.