First casinos in Colombia

Before "casino" in the modern sense

Gambling entertainment has taken root in the country since the time of Spanish colonization (card and other games), but these were mainly household practices and lotteries; "casinos" as separate commercial halls appeared much later. Cultural scientists note that the passion for the game in Colombia is a phenomenon with deep historical roots.

For the context of the era - tourism and the "big hotels" of the first half to the middle of the 20th century (for example, Hotel El Prado in Barranquilla, opened in 1930) set the scene of social life, but were not "casinos" in the legal sense of the word.

When the first modern casinos appeared

Research and industry reviews converge: the first slot salons and modern casino halls began to appear in the largest cities in Colombia in the 1980-1990s - in parallel with the growth of chance and offline lotteries. This is the actual beginning of the commercial casino segment in its usual form.

From the "first" big steps of business, the arrival of international networks is distinguished. So, Codere announces its entry into Colombia in 1984, and in 1999 the group strengthened its presence by buying Crown Cali - at that time the country's largest casino. These milestones are often referred to as early-stage industry markers.

Pivot to the white market: Law 643/2001

Before the start of the 2000s, regulation was fragmented. The situation was systematized by Law 643/2001 - a framework act on state monopoly on game revenues, which determined the formats (including juegos localizados - casinos and bingo), basic rules and concession paths. Today, Coljuegos relies on this very base and supporting acts.

From that moment on, the development of the casino was already in the "white" plane: the halls were opened under concession agreements, and supervision, accounting and technical requirements were brought by the regulator.

Where did you look for the "first" - pioneer cities

The first large sites and networks in the late XX - early XXI centuries were concentrated in Cali, Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena: there was infrastructure, traffic and tourism. An example of an early "anchor" is often called the Crown cluster (including Crown Cali), which today remains a noticeable network of ground halls.

What counts as "very first" is an important caveat

Due to the lack of a single register until 2001, it is impossible to name one "first casino-hall" without stretch: clubs, private salons, and halls with varying degrees of formality were in use. Therefore, historians and industry publications describe the transition period of the 1980-1990s as an "early market," and after 2001 - as a legal industry with clear rules.

Timeline (short)

Until the 1980s. Disparate forms of play, lotteries and "chance"; social life is concentrated in hotels and clubs, but without the format of a modern casino.

1980-1990s. The first modern slot salons and casinos in big cities; in 1984 Codere came in, in 1999 - the purchase of Crown Cali, the largest hall at that time.

2001. Law 643 was adopted: uniform rules, state monopoly on income and classes of games (including juegos localizados - casino/bingo).

2010s → 2025. Institutionalization of supervision (Coljuegos), growth of networks, synchronization with technical requirements and responsible practices.

Why it matters today

Understanding "where it all started" helps to speak correctly about the heritage of the market: the "first casinos" of Colombia are not one address, but a generation of halls of the 80-90s, on the basis of which the modern legal sector arose under Law 643/2001. For the reader, the conclusion is simple: it is worth playing only at licensed sites operating under the current Coljuegos rules - this is what distinguishes the current industry from the "gray" practices of the past.

Note to the editor: when preparing museum/local history materials about specific "first halls," rely on the city archives and the regional press; Corporate chronicles of international networks (e.g. Codere) and legal sources on Ley 643/2001 are useful for the early stage business context.