Colombia as an example for Brazil, Peru, Argentina - Colombia
Introduction: Why Colombia
Colombia was the first in Latin America to build a full-fledged "digital" system: a framework law (Ley 643/2001), a profile regulator Coljuegos (2011), regulations for games operated via the Internet (2016) and sustainable licensing practices (since 2017). This "triangle" - uniform rules + centralized supervision + technical regulations - turned the country into a working standard for neighbors.
What constitutes the "Colombian standard"
1. Institute: one specialized body (Coljuegos) with authority over rules, supervision, concessions and sanctions.
2. Licensing: clear entry for online operators (list of allowed verticals, capital/guarantee requirements, concession term and structure).
3. Fiscal model: operating rights as% of GGR (with RTP threshold), plus fixed "tarifa fija" under contract and admin fee - predicted load for P & L.
4. Technical supervision: mandatory integrations, log storage, RNG/live certification, real-time reporting, audit, KYC/AML and responsible play tools.
5. Antilegal: constant blocking of "gray" sites/social networks, public registers of permitted brands, joint raids with law enforcement agencies.
6. Communication: official guides, payment calculators, public news about changes - the market understands "what tomorrow."
What matters to Brazil, Peru and Argentina
1) Brazil
Context. Large-scale market, multi-level introduction of sports betting and gradual detailing of by-laws; hot agenda advertising/sponsorships and payments.
What to learn from Colombia:- Single operations center. Even with federal/state specifics, a "coordination bus" is needed to standardize KYC/AML, reporting and illegal blocking.
- Technical regulations forward marketing. First - integration, log storage, RG limits, anti-fraud; only then - the expansion of the product line.
- Clear GGR formulas. Fixing RTP rates/thresholds and public simulations reduce discussions about "hidden" taxes.
- Advertising code. The Colombian model "advertising freedom ↔ hard RG watermark and age barrier" is a working compromise for the mass football market.
1. Centralized reporting portal + API for operators/payments.
2. National list of "white" domains and regular blocking reports.
3. Unified format of limits (deposit/loss/time), mandatory in the interface.
4. Single payment calculator and press/market FAQ.
2) Peru
Context. The regulatory framework for online forecasts has been adopted, licensing and administrative procedures are being configured; strong link with fiscal objectives.
What to learn from Colombia:- From "tax" to "ecosystem." Not limited to fiscalization - to complete the technical circuit: certification of providers, audit of logs, product register.
- Service regulator. Coljuegos regularly publishes clarifications and templates - this speeds up the time-to-market and reduces errors in applications.
- Antilegal as a daily routine. Not campaigns "once a year," but the flow of locks and reporting on confiscations/fines - a signal to investors and users.
1. Unified supplier register (RNG/live) with cross-recognition of certifications.
2. "Traffic light" of risks through payment channels (low/medium/high) and whitelist.
3. Mandatory integration of operators into anti-fraud/AML pools with a bank perimeter.
4. Public panel: receipts, number of active licenses, SLAs for payments.
3) Argentina
Context. Provincial model (CABA, Buenos Aires, etc.) with varying rule maturity; there are developed cases, but high heterogeneity and fragmentation.
What to learn from Colombia:- Minimum federal "compatibility standard." While maintaining the autonomy of the provinces - a common basic protocol: reporting, RG metrics, AML requirements, block lists.
- Data exchange. The Colombian practice of a single "center of logs" is suitable in the form of an interprovincial hub (data lake) for illegal immigrants and match fixes.
- Tax base harmonization. Even at different rates, a single formula (GGR, deductions, RTP threshold) will remove arbitration between jurisdictions.
1. Interprovincial MoU for data exchange (online reporting, "black lists," sanctions).
2. Single glossary and technical standard (version 1. 0) for RNG/live, KYC and log storage.
3. General advertising rules (RG watermarks, ban on targeting minors, hours).
4. Joint tender requirements for content providers - reducing operator costs.
Universal "Colombian" lessons
Pre-scale rules. Do not chase the number of licenses without ready technical supervision.
Fiscal predictability. Simple formula GGR + public manuals = less controversy, higher investment horizon.
Default RG. Mandatory limits, self-exclusion, "session timer," hotline - in the user interface, and not in the "depth of settings."
Antilegal as a product metric. Locks and fines are published as systematically as sports news.
Norm updateability. Regulatory "sprint" once every six months: a package of amendments to technical regulations for the market and security.
Success indicators (what to measure after implementation)
Share of turnover "in the white zone" (GGR/license payments) vs. gray segment valuation.
Average cashout time and percentage of disputes resolved on time (SLA).
Number and coverage of RG tools (self-exclusions, limits, appeals).
Number of blocked illegal domains/pages and reoccurrence of violations.
Receipts for social programs (health care/sports) are key to public support.
Conclusion
Colombia has proven that a centralized regulator + a clear fiscal formula + tight technical supervision create a working, sustainable iGaming model. For Brazil, it's a recipe for coordinating a huge market and responsible marketing; for Peru, moving from a tax framework to a full ecosystem; for Argentina, a way to link provinces with common standards. By following the "Colombian standard," these countries can accelerate legalization, protect the consumer and transform the sector from a "controversial topic" into a predictable source of budget and employment.