In order to prevent the consequences associated with loss of control in gambling, a total of 245,199 Colombian citizens have requested self-exclusion from online gambling portals between 2024 and 2025.
According to the president of Coljuegos, Marco Emilio Hincapié, this high number of self-exclusion registrations is due to the joint work between the entity and the operators to promote legal and responsible gambling.
“We have been implementing the ‘Take Control, Play It Safe’ campaign, through which we have informed players about the risks and consequences of uncontrolled gambling. Our purpose is to promote gambling as entertainment, not as an addiction,” Hincapié said.
The figures show a clear trend in behavior by gender: in both 2024 and 2025, 81% of self-exclusions were by men and 19% by women.
Regarding the geographical distribution, the largest volumes of applications come from the country’s most populated departments and cities. Antioquia leads the registrations with 21.39% in 2025, followed by Bogotá, which accounts for 19.07% of self-exclusions in 2025. Valle del Cauca, Atlántico, and Santander also present significant figures.
“Self-exclusion has become an increasingly popular self-care tool among Colombians. The increase and consistency in the records reflect a greater awareness of the risks of excessive gambling and the importance of having effective mechanisms to protect the health and well-being of users,” said the president of Coljuegos.
It’s worth noting that each of the 14 online gambling operators has a section on their platforms where bettors can request self-exclusion. This procedure allows them to block bets placed on profiles created with the applicant’s identification number.
“As a regulatory body, we will continue working with operators to strengthen these strategies and to promote safer and more responsible digital entertainment environments,” concluded the president of Coljuegos.
