Colombia may soon introduce new regulations on gambling advertisement. Under a bill proposed by Coljuegos on September 29, the body will become the official regulator of licensed gambling ads and marketing campaigns.

In addition to establishing Coljuegos as the new marketing regulator for gambling ads, the proposal would also introduce new rules on what operators can and cannot do. The measure would provide the authority with more power, allowing it to regulate how gambling is advertised in the country.

The proposed rules also outline sanctions for violations and set a cap on how much companies can spend on advertising. Starting 2024, operators would be unable to spend more than 20% of their project GGR on advertising and marketing campaigns. Under Coljuegos’ proposal, operators will also be unable to spend more than $2.2 million on promotions in the first year.

If passed, the measure would provide Coljuegos with authority to require information about gambling companies’ expenses. This way, the body will be able to ensure that gambling companies are compliant with the new rules.

Coljuegos Wants to Protect Vulnerable Audiences from Harm

Furthermore, the new rules would require licensees to follow new safer gambling protocols and work harder to identify and prevent gambling harm. To that end, operators would be unable to advertise nearby learning establishments and health centers. Coljuegos also plans to prevent operators from advertising to younger audiences.

In line with its desire to protect the Colombian market, Coljuego would prohibit the usage of false or misleading advertisement that downplays the risks associated with gambling. In addition, the regulator would bar gambling companies from advertising their products and services to people who have excluded themselves from gambling.

Companies would also be unable to advertise products by featuring people who have benefited from gambling as to not create a false association that gambling is an easy way to get rich. Moreover, operators would be required clearly communicate the nature of products they advertise and transparently inform consumers of their games’ characteristics.

If approved, Coljuegos’ proposal would also introduce rules on payment that only allow deposits via pre-paid cards.

The fate of Coljuegos’ gabling ad resolution will be decided by the Congress.

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PAGCOR has clarified that the matter concerned not so much gambling as much as it did job postings and advertisements promising excellent salaries and working conditions. According to the regulator, those ads were the work of “unscrupulous groups” involved in human-trafficking and crypto scams.

Beware of Fake POGO Job Postings, Says PAGCOR

POGOs have been causing a lot of stir in Asia, and specifically those that have been running their operations illegally in the region. Unlawful POGOs have been attracting local and foreign nationals with the promise of tidy salaries, with those arriving only to find themselves put in squalor and exploitative working conditions.

Workers attempting to leave have been beaten and placed in captivity, PAGCOR warned, citing years of reports about the issues. However, PAGCOR is now doubling down on its efforts to inform the public and keep job-seekers from falling prey to such predatory practices. For the most part, the offers that are posted concern Customer Service Representative positions that have to do with crypto trading.

The ads run by the criminal offer a high basic salary along with bonuses. However, many of these ads are proving bogus and the work of human-trafficking rings, organized criminal groups, and scammers. PAGCOR has urged the public to always make sure that a POGO that is advertising jobs is part of the Offshore Gaming Licensees and Service Providers list.

This is a list of entities that are authorized to offer gambling legally in the country and are the only ones that can be posting job offerings for similar positions. This renewed regulatory zeal comes in the wake of enforcement action that saw a POGO provider operating in Sun Valley Clark had its license suspended.

The country has also been grappling with another matter, which is the appearance of a fake website that “stole” the name of a US history awareness project and used it to beguile unwitting citizens into illegal gambling.

PAGCOR has been toughening its tone on gambling operations. The regulator explicitly warned POGOs to not sub-license to third parties, as that would breach their own licensing conditions and lead to enforcement action.

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