Colombia’s national regulator, Coljuegos, has issued new taxation guidelines for online gaming operators, clarifying how player bonuses and promotional credits will be treated under the country’s value-added tax (VAT) framework. The update follows the introduction of VAT on gambling deposits in February 2025, representing another major step in Colombia’s ongoing effort to modernize and stabilize its gaming tax system.
VAT Now Applies to Bonus Credits
Under the new rules, operators are required to pay VAT on playable bonus credits that account for less than 1.6% of their monthly gross income. However, bonuses exceeding the average monthly exploitation rights paid over the prior 12 months are exempt from VAT.
Newly licensed operators will benefit from a temporary lower threshold during their first year of operations, designed to encourage market entry and investment while maintaining regulatory fairness.
Coljuegos stated that failure to comply with these new requirements could result in financial penalties, emphasizing that the changes aim to prevent operators from using player bonuses as a method to offset VAT liabilities.
Balancing Tax Stability and Market Growth
The revised policy seeks to stabilize national tax revenue while ensuring that promotional practices remain transparent. According to Coljuegos, the rules are part of a broader effort to maintain a balanced and competitive online gaming environment, where fiscal responsibility complements player protection and sustainable market growth.
The regulator explained that this approach will help reduce instances of bonus misuse, aligning Colombia’s framework more closely with international best practices for iGaming taxation.
Broader Enforcement and Market Reforms
The bonus taxation update follows a series of recent enforcement and licensing actions by Coljuegos. Last week, the regulator signed a new cooperation pact with Valle del Cauca authorities to combat illegal gambling in the region. Earlier in October, the government also issued Keno-related concessions, authorizing the operation of Keno games in four regions, including Bogotá, marking the vertical’s official entry into Colombia’s regulated market.
In addition, Coljuegos continues to target unlicensed gambling activity, having recently seized 569 illegal gambling devices nationwide. Together, these measures highlight the regulator’s dual commitment to expanding regulated opportunities while maintaining strict enforcement standards across both the online and land-based sectors.
Sources: Gambling Insider, iGaming Today
