Colombia has ambitious plans for sports betting

Online sports betting operators are assured of a warm welcome in Colombia’s recently legalised gambling market, according to the president of local regulator Coljuegos.

In a local media interview this week Juan B. Pérez Hidalgo, said he hopes the currently five licensed sports betting operators in the market will grow four-fold to around 20 in the next year, boosting tax collections which go to fund the nation’s health system.

By the end of this year online operators will have contributed the local currency equivalent of between US$1.3 and 1.5 million to the health sector, he said, observing that he expects that contribution to grow considerably as the sector becomes more established and new operators come into the market.

The online contribution is currently dwarfed by that from the gambling industry as a whole (US$ 154.6 million) but the potential is there, Hidalgo opined, noting that existing operators have already built player lists of around 50,000, illustrating the popularity of their products.

Hidalgo is keen to ensure that a vibrant and competitive online gambling market evolves in Colombia, ensuring better offers for players….and of course higher tax contributions from more operators .

Related and similar