Casino at tourist resorts - Colombia
Shortly
In Colombia, land-based casinos and bingo are "juegos localizados": they operate only under a concession contract and must be listed on Coljuegos "¿Dónde jugar legal? ». If the site is not on the list, it is illegal.
1) Legal framework for resort casinos
State monopoly and definition of "localized games." Ley 643/2001: casino/bingo - games that are held in commercial premises, and are allowed in areas suitable for such activities. This is the usual format of resort casinos at hotels and shopping centers.
Who controls. The regulator Coljuegos administers the monopoly, publishes rules and maintains registers of legal halls, including juegos localizados.
2) Cartagena de Indias: resort cluster
Casino Río Cartagena: According to industry catalogs, the hall is located on Avenida San Martín - in the tourist belt of Bocagrande, next to beaches and large hotels. The typical set is slots and tables.
Important about Sun Nao: the previously popular site in the Nao shopping center is closed (confirmed by travel guides and reference books). If you see old articles with recommendations, check the relevance before traveling.
How to check legality in Cartagena: go to "¿Dónde jugar legal?" and select the Bolívar → Cartagena department - the list of authorized addresses will appear.
3) San Andres Island: Compact market "at the hotel"
Enjoy San Andrés. According to fresh reviews of travelers - the only "legal" casino on the island, small, neat, adjacent to the hotel infrastructure. The format is aimed at guests of the resort: evening game, bar, calm atmosphere.
Status check: Look for an object through the form "¿Dónde jugar legal?" for the department of San Andrés y Providencia.
4) Santa Marta and the Magdalena Coast
Local sites. Zamba Santa Marta Music Hall, Ocean Side, Ventura Ocean, Playa Internacional, Lucky Town are found in tourist guides - these are "city" halls in tourist areas (Rodadero, center). Always check for a specific point in the Coljuegos registry before a visit.
Quick check: Department Magdalena → Santa Marta in the form of Coljuegos "¿Dónde jugar legal? ».
5) How to choose a resort casino (checklist)
1. Legality. Open "¿Dónde jugar legal?" on the Coljuegos website, select a department/city and make sure the address is on the authorized list. Absence from the list = illegal.
2. Format "at the hotel." In resort areas, part of the casino is integrated with hotels/shopping centers (typical Caribbean format), which is convenient for security and logistics. An example is Enjoy San Andrés.
3. Relevance. The stage is fluid: some venues are closing (Sun Nao Cartagena is an example). Check hours and status the day before.
4. Game profile and service. In resort halls, the rate is often on slots + base tables, bar and evening shows (Rio Cartagena and analogues). Check the program on sites/pages or in fresh guide cards.
6) Tourism and responsibility
Why is this important to the state. The concession regime provides transparent payments to the budget and financing of social programs - the basic principle of Ley 643/2001 and the work of Coljuegos.
Safe play. 18 +, document at the entrance, time/budget limits, refusal to "catch up." Before your trip, think about the route (district, transport) and play only in legal establishments checked through Coljuegos.
Colombia's resort casinos are legal "juegos localizados" with an understandable test of legality through the Coljuegos website. For the Caribbean coast, target Casino Río Cartagena (Bocagrande), Enjoy San Andrés on the island and a set of venues in Santa Marta - but always check current status and registry addresses as the market is alive (example of Sun Nao closed). This approach will maintain a balance between rest and safety.