Top-rated Online gambling sites in Colombia

Colombia is a country in Latin America on the tip of the continent of South America. The capital city is Bogota. A nation of stunning beaches and diverse terrains with cities and sweeping jungle landscapes alike.

Colombia is the most popular gambling destination in South America and has casinos spread throughout 26 cities. Most of the casinos are in its busy and vivid capital Bogota. Whether you decide to visit or use an online casino site, make sure you are familiar with the laws and regulations.

Since October 2016, Colombia's online gambling sector is legal and regulated. This means casino operators can provide interactive gaming, betting, and poker services here. But, Anyone found operating an online casino without the necessary license faces prosecution. Some casinos team up with Colombian permit holders to provide online casino services in the country.

Even though online casino operations have only been in business since 2016, they are very popular. There is an estimated large proportion of the population with online gambling accounts. Yet, not all sports are available for betting in Colombia. Thus, players need to check ahead of time to see if there are any restrictions and plan their bets accordingly.

Top-rated Online gambling sites in Colombia

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Emily Thompson
Written byEmily ThompsonWriter
Researched byPriya PatelResearcher
Online casinos in Colombia

Online casinos in Colombia

The Colombian government regulates gambling rigorously to ensure the safety of the customers. This means that you must be 18 or older to gamble, you must not use a slot machine made in 1952 or older and you must make sure the Colombian online casino is licensed. If found breaking these regulations, you can be fined or even imprisoned.

The people of Colombia are not new to online gambling and casinos, although it has only been legal since 2016. Companies that want to offer online casino games will need to obtain a license to do it. Land-based casinos in Colombia are mainly found in Bogota or Medellin, so for most people, the only option is to use an online casino unless they go to the slot halls, but this is the only game available there.

The online gambling industry in Colombia is highly regulated. Anyone found operating an online casino without the appropriate license will be prosecuted, and the site cannot be operated for five years. To date, the authorities in Colombia have blocked more than 3000 gambling sites. Some companies work alongside Colombian companies with the licenses to be able to offer these services in the country.

Even though online casinos have only been in operation since 2016, they are very popular, and it is estimated that a large proportion of the population has an online gambling account. However, it is not possible to bet on all sports in Colombia, so players should check in advance if there are any restrictions and plan their bets accordingly.

Real money casinos in Colombia

As fun and thrilling as gambling may be, it can turn into a dangerous addiction. In order to prevent this, inform yourself about the importance of responsible gambling. Gambling should be a recreational activity, and not used as a means of income. Irresponsible gambling can lead to a relationship, financial and health problems.

To prevent this leisure activity to turn into a problem, here are some rules to follow:

  • Make a budget- play with real money that you can afford to lose
  • Know when to walk away
  • Don't gamble when you're drunk, sad, or upset
  • Know that gambling is not a way of making a steady income
Online casinos in Colombia
History of gambling in Colombia

History of gambling in Colombia

Residents of Colombia have been able to take part in gambling activities since 1991 when it was made legal. This applied to land-based casinos. It has been legal to gamble online since 2001, but the final legalization of this only happened in 2016. This does not mean that people did not gamble before 1991. There were many gambling houses in the country, but without an official footing. They were only tolerated by the authorities and run by criminals.

In the years between 1991 and 2001, it was mainly the state that ran the casinos. The Colombian constitution states that the revenue from any gambling establishment should be used to benefit society. The main piece of gambling legislation came into effect in 2001. This created a gambling commission, called the Coljuegos, which was tasked with overseeing all the land-based casinos.

The Coljuegos have been given full powers to create the regulations and agreements that control the gambling industry. This has set the standard for other South American countries to follow and many are trying to emulate the model. However, despite government oversight of the industry, the actual casinos are run by private companies who get contracts from the government to do so.

History of gambling in Colombia
Online casinos in Colombia nowadays

Online casinos in Colombia nowadays

Even though online gambling has only officially been legal since 2016, the government actually issued the first license a year earlier in 2015. Colombia also had a number of online lotteries before that.

In 2021, the Colombian government also made it legal to take part in online bingo, play instant win games and digital scratchcards. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had seen a damaging effect on the gambling industry. By making more services and games available to the public, the industry could continue to grow despite the restrictions on movements.

Online casinos in Colombia nowadays
Future of online casinos in Colombia

Future of online casinos in Colombia

The Colombian government is likely to continue to work to grow the gambling industry, both in the land-based and online sectors. It is estimated that a good percentage of the Colombian people have an online gambling account with a casino and with more and more games and options being made available, this is only set to grow over the next few years. Online casinos are growing in popularity all over the world and with the revenue that can be earned from them, Colombia will want to take advantage of this.

There are some sports where you cannot place a bet. Bullfighting, for example, has recently become legal again in Colombia, but players are not permitted to place a bet on it. This may change in the future but may depend upon public demand.

In order to maintain control over the industry, it is likely that the Colombian government will continue to review the legislation and licenses and introduce further regulations. It will be important for them to ensure that the access to unauthorized casinos is limited. For players, it is likely that the variety of games available will grow as casinos find more ways of keeping their custom.

Future of online casinos in Colombia
Colombian players’ favorite games

Colombian players’ favorite games

There are very few online casino games that have not proved to be popular with the Colombian people. Poker and roulette are traditional casino games that are easy to play and bet with small amounts. This is popular among those who have a limited amount of money to spend or when learning the trades of the game.

Table and Card Games

Colombian players enjoy trying their luck with a deck of cards or spinning the roulette wheel. Fortunately, this category has an equally intriguing selection. The top games available are video poker, blackjack, baccarat, and online roulette.

Since users play against the house, there's no need to be concerned about fairness or odds. Regulated Colombian casino sites have certified software. Therefore, the outcome of each game will be determined by a complicated formula generated by a Random Number Generator.

Bingo

The game has become popular with Colombian players. Bingo is more enjoyable than many classic casino games. The popularity is because there is no need for players to memorize complex rules.

Slots

Another popular option is to play online slots. This type of game does not require any specialized knowledge to play. Slots may be played by betting on tiny or fixed amounts of money. There is something to suit all preferences due to the variety of slots games.

Lotteries

In recent years, online lotteries have grown in popularity in Colombia. These games are simple to play and provide significant potential returns.

Colombian players’ favorite games
About the author
Emily Thompson
Emily Thompson

Emily "VegasMuse" Thompson is a seasoned online casino enthusiast from down under. With a keen eye for details and an inherent knack for strategizing, she has turned her passion for the online casino world into a successful writing career.

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