- REGULATION & COMPLIANCE
Colombian gambling regulator Coljuegos has struck up a partnership with industry trade organisation Asojuegos to jointly tackle issues related to money laundering.
The "Pacts for Legality" project will focus on joint Coljuegos and Asojuegos anti-money laundering (AML) efforts in the national gambling market.
Asojuegos will encourage its members to support the campaign and work with both the organisation and Coljuegos to combat money laundering and related activities.
Coljuegos president Marco Emilio Hincapié said licensed operators can play their part by having in place management practices. This, he said, will ensure both efficiency and transparency in their Colombia-facing operations.
Hincapié added Coljuegos intends to seek out similar partnerships with other groups to strengthen the impact of the campaign.
“The objective of the initiative is to fight, prevent and detect possible money laundering and financing of terrorism,” Hincapié said. “Pacts will also be signed with the other unions in the sector.
“This is a clear commitment to fight united against illegality for the benefit of the health of Colombians.”
Asojuegos president Juan Carlos Restrepo added: “We’re very committed to the initiative and it is necessary to intensify the fight against illegality. This can hurt the health of Colombians and the business fabric around the world of games of luck and chance.”
Tackling illegal gambling in Colombia
The link-up marks the latest step by Coljuegos and other organisations to tackle illegal gambling activities in the country.
In June, Coljuegos, completed raids against illegal gambling operations throughout Colombia's Risaralda and Quindío regions.
The regulator seized 159 pieces of what it deemed illegal gambling machinery in the control. This included four sports betting modules, 55 electronic slot machines and 100 bingo chairs.
Earlier in the year, the Colombian Federation of Entrepreneurs of Games of Luck and Chance (Fecoljuegos) partnered with the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA). Under a Memorandum of Understanding, the two organisations are working to establish a betting integrity framework in Colombia.
This focuses on fighting against sports-related fraud and match fixing and upholding sports integrity in Colombia.