Likumdošana
Fecoljuegos brīdina par gaidāmo PVN tiešsaistes spēlēm Kolumbijā
By James - 4. gada 2025. februāris
The Colombian Federation of Entrepreneurs in Games of Chance and Luck (Fecoljuegos) has warned about the implications of implementing a VAT on online gaming.
In a statement Fecoljuegos argued that this measure would not “only jeopardize the financial stability of a key sector for the digital economy but also disrupt the contractual balance between currently authorized companies and the state, compromising the model that has enabled sustainable growth in this industry.”
According to the organisation the online gaming sector in Colombia operates under strict regulations established by Coljuegos, which sets the technical, legal, and financial conditions for its operation.
“This model has been essential for ensuring the development, growth, and sustainability of this economic activity, as well as generating revenue for the funding of the health system, while promoting legality, transparency, and the formalization of this industry. In the third quarter of 2024, online gaming contributed $231.343 billion to the Colombian health system and created 150,000 formal jobs, cementing its role as a pillar of digital transformation in the country,” Fecoljuegos stated.
For this reason, Fecoljuegos emphasized “the need for any initiative aimed at increasing the tax burden on this sector to be based on a clear understanding of the technical operating conditions of gaming, its economic model, the terms of existing concession contracts, and the risks of any measures that could affect the stability of this economic activity. It is also crucial that revenue estimates for any new fiscal measure impacting the business are derived from reliable figures and accurate projections.”
Fecoljuegos warned that imposing VAT on online gaming operations, as currently proposed, would create an imbalance in the contractual equilibrium of concessions for operating online games, directly affecting the sustainability of the sector.
“The current model already operates with limited margins, as nearly 97% of the amount wagered is returned to players as prizes, along with exploitation rights and management expenses, leaving operators with limited net income to cover high operational costs. An additional tax would compromise the viability of authorized companies and, therefore, the revenue allocated to the state,” Fecoljuegos argued.
The statement comes after Colombia’s Finanšu ministrs Djego Gevara, announced that, based on the state of emergency decree due to the security crisis in Catatumbo, VAT will be implemented on online gambling. The call has led to opposition members raising concerns about the potential misuse of the state of emergency, which grants the President the authority to create or modify taxes during its duration.