Coljuegos has formally created the Unique Registry of Importers and Traders (RIC), a new mechanism designed to track the importation and commercialization of slot machines and prevent unlicensed equipment from operating in the Colombian market.
The measure established requires all companies importing or trading electronic gaming machines to register each unit before it enters the country. Importers and traders have 45 calendar days to complete registration via Coljuegos’ website, starting January 26, 2026.
Under the new framework, registered companies must also report the final destination of each gaming machine within 10 days of customs clearance, strengthening traceability across the supply chain.
Coljuegos President Marco Emilio Hincapié Ramírez said the registry is a key tool for closing regulatory gaps. He added: “The creation of the RIC is fundamental for controlling the importation and commercialization of slot machines that enter the country, and for closing the door to illegality that does so much damage to health revenues.”
Colombia currently operates around 109,000 authorized electronic slot machines across more than 3,700 licensed venues, with slot machine imports exceeding $22.5m in 2024, underscoring the scale of the market.
The regulator will coordinate the registry with Colombia’s tax and customs authority DIAN to verify imports of gaming machines and components, ensuring all authorized equipment contributes to public health funding.
Beyond slot machine oversight, Coljuegos also highlighted the broader contribution of regulated gaming to Colombia’s public health system. In 2025, territorial games, including chance, traditional lotteries and Raspa&Listo, transferred COP 649.5bn ($146m) to regional health services, a 5.9% increase year-on-year.
The regulator said these resources are directed to hospital financing and subsidized healthcare at the regional level, reinforcing the link between tighter market controls and the sustainability of health funding.
Coljuegos highlighted that bingo and casino segments alone increased health system transfers by 9.3 % in 2025, driven in part by stronger regulatory enforcement
