Colombia moves to expand responsible gambling rules for internet-based lottery and betting products

Colombia’s National Council of Games of Luck and Chance has advanced a new agreement that would require territorial gambling operators using the internet as a sales channel to implement stronger responsible gambling practices.

Colombia’s Consejo Nacional de Juegos de Suerte y Azar has moved forward with a new draft agreement designed to introduce responsible gambling requirements for territorial games, with particular attention to operators that sell products through internet channels. The initiative is aimed at extending player-protection standards to segments such as lotteries and chance betting, which traditionally fall under Colombia’s territorial gambling framework.

According to the CNJSA’s official notice, the draft agreement was published on April 27, 2026, and stakeholders were invited to submit comments until May 13, 2026. Industry reporting says the proposal seeks to align territorial gambling with stricter prevention and player-protection standards already developed by Coljuegos at the national level.

The proposed framework is based on three main areas: prevention, self-care and support for people affected by gambling-related harm. Operators would be required to implement a Responsible Gambling Programme, including education strategies, preventive campaigns, internal staff training and monitoring mechanisms. These measures would become part of concession obligations and would be supervised by the relevant governing bodies.

One of the most important elements is the introduction of practical player-protection tools. The proposal includes a risk-factor identification test that must be available on online platforms, as well as a voluntary self-exclusion system. Under the draft rules, players would be able to restrict their access to gambling products for a defined period, with a minimum exclusion period of 30 days.

The agreement would also strengthen advertising and minor-protection rules. Operators would be prohibited from directing gambling communications at minors, while promotional materials would need to include clear warning messages. In addition, operators would have to submit semi-annual reports with data on implementation, impact and the number of self-excluded users.

The proposal builds on Colombia’s broader responsible gambling strategy. In October 2024, Coljuegos issued Resolution 20244000022654, which replaced the previous 2021 framework and established new responsible gambling provisions. Coljuegos later said its prevention work includes the “Toma el control, juega a la fija” campaign, self-exclusion tools and the Risk Factor Identification Test, which had already been used thousands of times by players.

For Colombia’s gambling market, the CNJSA proposal signals that responsible gambling is becoming a cross-sector regulatory priority, not only an online casino or sports betting issue. If adopted, the agreement would increase compliance obligations for territorial operators and create a more consistent protection model for players using internet-based sales channels.