{"id":19419,"date":"2025-06-03T15:59:58","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T12:59:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.igamingamerika.com\/?p=19419"},"modified":"2025-06-03T15:59:58","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T12:59:58","slug":"colombia-stands-firm-on-19-vat-for-online-gambling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/igamingamerika.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/03\/colombia-stands-firm-on-19-vat-for-online-gambling\/","title":{"rendered":"Colombia Stands Firm on 19% VAT for Online Gambling Amid Industry Backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Colombia\u2019s government is standing firm on its controversial 19% online gambling VAT, dismissing intense criticism from the gaming industry and concerns over a booming black market. Signed into law by President Gustavo Petro under Decree 175 of 2025, this tax on online gambling deposits is part of an emergency economic package to fund humanitarian efforts in the conflict-torn Catatumbo region.<\/strong> <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">colombia<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Effective since February 21, 2025, and set to expire on December 31, the Colombia online gambling VAT targets every deposit made to licensed online gambling and sports betting platforms, including those using cryptocurrencies. Paired with a 1% tax on coal and gas sales and a 1% stamp duty on securities deals, the VAT supports a COL$523 trillion welfare-focused budget. The Finance Ministry is already considering making this \u201ctemporary\u201d <strong>tax<\/strong> permanent, signaling long-term fiscal plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Attorney General\u2019s Office staunchly defends the VAT, arguing its legality and necessity. \u201cThe measures in Decree 175 are proportional and non-discriminatory,\u201d said Gregorio Eljach, President of the Attorney General\u2019s Office. \u201cThey\u2019re critical for funding public order and humanitarian efforts.\u201d Eljach has urged the Constitutional Court to uphold the tax, emphasizing its role in stabilizing violence-plagued regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The gambling industry, however, is sounding the alarm. Fecoljuegos, Colombia\u2019s national trade group, reports a 30% drop in online gambling gross gaming revenue (GGR) within the first month of the Colombia online gambling VAT. Players are flocking to unregulated offshore platforms to avoid the tax. \u201cThe Colombia online gambling VAT is pushing players to unlicensed sites,\u201d said Evert Montero C\u00e1rdenas, President of Fecoljuegos. \u201cOperators are struggling to absorb costs despite offering bonuses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read also: <a href=\"http:\/\/staging.igamingamerika.com\/six-operators-receive-michigan-online-gambling-cease-and-desist-orders-in-crackdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Six Operators Receive Michigan Online Gambling Cease-and-Desist Orders in Crackdown<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tax\u2019s structure\u2014levied on deposits rather than net revenues\u2014is particularly damaging. Kambi, a leading Stockholm-listed sportsbook provider, noted a \u201csignificant squeeze\u201d in Colombia. \u201cThe 19% Colombia online gambling VAT directly suppresses betting volumes,\u201d Kambi stated, highlighting its negative impact on performance despite the company\u2019s strong market position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trade groups like Asojuegos warn that the tax is eroding South America\u2019s robust regulated market. The tax incentivizes lower return-to-player (RTP) rates, potentially pushing licensed operators below the 78% compliance threshold and into legal trouble. The shift to unregulated platforms further undermines the market\u2019s integrity, threatening one of Colombia\u2019s thriving digital sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With opposition mounting, even within Petro\u2019s coalition, the  VAT faces an uncertain future. The government must balance its fiscal needs with the risk of crippling a key industry. Without a rethink, the tax could drive more players to the black market, undermining Colombia\u2019s regulated gambling framework.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Colombia\u2019s government is standing firm on its controversial 19% online gambling VAT, dismissing intense criticism from the gaming industry and concerns over a booming black market. Signed into law by President Gustavo Petro under Decree 175 of 2025, this tax on online gambling deposits is part of an emergency economic package to fund humanitarian efforts &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19420,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[188,22,2],"tags":[330],"class_list":["post-19419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colombia-gambling-news","category-news","category-sports-betting-america-news","tag-gaming-in-colombia"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Colombia Stands Firm on 19% VAT for Online Gambling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Colombia\u2019s government is standing firm on its controversial 19% Colombia online gambling VAT, dismissing intense criticism 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