Colombia's regulator Coljuegos has introduced temporary relief measures for land-based operators and concessionaires affected by the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that struck on 10 August. The initiative is designed to accelerate the restoration of retail points, gaming terminals and promotional activities, while tax obligations remain unchanged.
The measures, set out in resolution 20260019544, apply exclusively to land-based operators and venues where equipment sustained physical damage. A drop in revenue alone does not qualify for relief. Coljuegos stressed that eligibility will be verified and monitored.
Operators may relocate equipment from damaged premises to other authorised locations under an expedited procedure. Severely affected sites may temporarily receive 'zero' status without loss of licence. Four months are granted to replace or restore the minimum required number of terminals, with the possibility of one extension. Where premises are completely destroyed, the regulator has promised faster approvals for new locations.
For the national lotteries — Baloto, Super Astro and KENO — separate accommodations apply: temporary exclusion of unavailable points from KPIs, postponement of testing and deployment deadlines, and consolidated reporting after the incident.
Online operators must adhere to standard schedules for data transmission, settlements and payments, since their systems are centralised. Individual exceptions are possible only if the operator can prove direct inability to meet obligations due to earthquake consequences.
Coljuegos emphasised that none of these measures exempt operators from fees or taxes. In February 2025 Colombia imposed an emergency 19% VAT on online operators, and the government is now seeking to make it permanent through a new tax bill.
