Comparison with Peru and Colombia (Ecuador)

Comparison with Peru and Colombia

Shortly

Ecuador: offline casinos banned since 2011; in 2024, a 15% GGR tax was introduced for sports betting, under which ~ 65 operators were registered. Online casinos remain outside special regulation.

Peru: from 2022/2023, a framework for online games and sports betting was adopted, the regulations entered into force on February 9, 2024, the key tax - 12% of net income (net win); additional charge of 1% per rate.

Colombia: LatAm's first mature online market under the Coljuegos regulator (first licenses since 2017); the basic fork of the tax for a long time - 15-17% GGR, in 2025 a single 19% GGR was discussed and introduced.

Ecuador: minimum "white" part - only sports betting

After the casino ban (2011), the country did not create its own license for online casinos; in 2024, the authorities whitewashed only sports betting: 15% GGR, by the fall of 2024, 65 companies ~ in the register. This gave transparency to sponsorship and advertising, but did not settle online casinos.

What does this give the market: a white channel - sports betting; lotteries remain legal; online casinos - predominantly offshore access without a local license (market "gray area").

Peru: 'full box' for online marketplace

Peru, through Law No. 31557 (rev. No. 31806) and by-laws, MINCETUR launched the regulation of remote games and bets, and the regulations entered into force on 9. 02. 2024 (with application deadlines and fines for non-compliance).

Taxes and fees: core - 12% of the operator's net income (bets minus winnings), plus 1% fee for each bet/game (SCT/equivalent).

Conclusion for comparison: Peru is already operating a full-fledged model of licensing and fiscal accounting for online games and sports - something that Ecuador does not yet have.

Colombia: Maturity and growth under Coljuegos

Colombia was the first in the region to launch full-fledged online licensing (first licenses - 2017, Wplay. co, etc.), which created a robust market and large transfers to the health care system.

Tax model: for a long time there was a differentiation of 15-17% GGR (dependent on RTP), in 2025 the government moved to a fixed 19% GGR (including through temporary measures and subsequent decisions).

Market effect: high coverage and revenue, active users, regular additional charges on the social sector - the result of many years of regulatory stability.

Forehead-to-forehead: key differences

References: Ecuador (tax/65 companies) -; Peru (regulations/12% + 1%) -; Colombia (2017, 15-17% 19%) -.

What it means for Ecuador

1. The fiscal base now is sports betting. There is an understandable 15% GGR tax and payer register; this already generates revenue and "whitewashes" marketing/sponsorship.

2. Online casinos require a separate law. The experience of Peru and Colombia shows: without a separate "box," the market goes offshore, and the state loses taxes and consumer protection levers.

3. The offline casino dilemma is political. While the 2011 ban is in effect; any changes go through a referendum and subsequent legislation. (Comparatively, the parliament/regulator neighbors have long managed both offline and online circuits.)

Practical conclusions for business and regulator

Ecuadorian operators (sports): Plan at 15% GGR and strengthen KYC/RG - the maturity of neighboring markets raises the bar for user and regulatory expectations.

Online casinos/suppliers: "white" exit is possible only through legislative reform similar to Peruvian (licenses, technical certification, taxes).

Policy/regulatory: Colombia's case demonstrates that sustainable rules + an understandable fiscal formula (even raised to 19%) support growth with transparency of redistribution (health care, etc.).

Ecuador is still closer to the minimalist model: lotteries + whitewashed sports bets and gray online casinos. Peru and Colombia went further: they have a complete online framework (licenses, taxes, compliance), which brings predictable revenues and allows risk management. If Ecuador wants to move closer to its neighbors, the roadmap is obvious: a separate law for online games, technical regulation, unified supervision and a clear tax formula.