Colombia Revitalize Online Casino Market with Approval on Live Dealer Games
Colombian gambling regulator Coljuegos has given the country’s approved gaming operators authorization to open live dealer casinos in the mid of the Covid-19 pandemic. Coljuegos said that since the start of Colombia’s controlled gaming industry in June 2017, it has increased 13% of gaming revenue, with approximately 3 million player accounts from across 16 licensed operators. Having studied the live casino industry in countries such as New Jersey in the US and Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom in Europe, the regulator noted that the introduction of live dealers complemented, rather than cannibalized, online casino sales.
Coupled with the ongoing social distancing caused by the pandemic, with the nation lock-down from 25 March to at least 27 April, Coljuegos said that the roll-out will help improve the business in the current situation. Since the outbreak, Columbia has reported 3,500 confirmed cases and more than 150 deaths. Live dealer games would be able to be transmitted from other markets throughout the world, providing that they meet with the technological criteria set out by the regulator for online gaming content.
The approval of live casino games was reported in addition to a number of steps to minimize the effect of Covid-19 on licensed gaming operators in the region. This would result in concessionaires being able to schedule the payment of payments due for March and April over a duration of six months and to which the amount of gaming devices or locations served over a duration of up to six months. In fact, Coljuegos does not have to insure that operators achieve the negotiated minimum wages or promised gross income set out in their agreements between March and December 2020.
NetEnt has joined Colombia’s regulated igaming industry for the first time, in collaboration with Rush Street Interactive. Brian Kraft, the NetEnt Americas commercial vice president said they were very pleased to explore the market and Rush Street is a great partner to begin the business with. Omar Calvo, Managing Director of Rush Street Interactive Colombia, said the company was delighted to extend its relationship with both parties.
