Talks Begin on 19% VAT on Online Gambling Investments in Colombia
The Colombian government and Congress have begun technical talks on a tax bill that would apply 19% VAT to online gambling investments. The bill also doubles the tax bases for land-based gambling and raises the tax rate on lottery prizes.
The Colombian government and Congress have begun technical talks on a tax bill that would apply 19% VAT to online gambling investments. Working groups began on November 10. The groups were agreed at a meeting held in Barranquilla on November 7 between government representatives and members of the Congressional economic committee.
The talks cover Economic Recovery Bill No. 477/2026C. Finance Minister Miguel Gómez Martínez submitted the bill to the House of Representatives on October 29. The bill has been marked as urgent, and the economic committees of both chambers will consider it jointly. The committees are expected to meet in the last week of November. The government has set December 16 as the deadline to secure approval during the current session.
Article 41 of the bill removes the VAT exemption that applies only to online gaming and applies the standard rate of 19%. The tax base will be the amount deposited by the player, including cash, bank transfers and crypto assets, and this amount will be divided by 1.19. On this basis, a deposit of 119,000 COP would include 19,000 COP in VAT. Even if operators are established abroad, players will be liable for the tax if they are tax residents, residents or conduct business in Colombia.
Under the same article, monthly tax bases for land-based gambling operators will double. The base for slot machines will rise from 20 UVT to 40 UVT, and the base for gaming tables will rise from 290 UVT to 580 UVT. The base for each bingo seat, currently three UVT, will increase to six. Lottery revenues will keep their tax exemption.
Article 52 of the bill raises the withholding tax on lottery, raffle and betting prizes from 20% to 30%.
The Colombian Gaming Entrepreneurs Federation (Fecoljuegos) is preparing an alternative tax proposal for the Finance Ministry and Congress. The federation represents manufacturers, suppliers and operators of casinos, bingo halls and online platforms. Its members include Betsson Group, Codere, Wplay and Betano.
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