Legislation

Coljuegos announces the creation of the Single Registry of Importers and Marketers (RIC) to combat illegality

(Bogotá).- Starting in 2026, electronic slot machines must have a registration before being imported into Colombia.

Por Coljuegos

Monday 09 February

Coljuegos announces the creation of the Single Registry of Importers and Marketers (RIC) to combat illegality. (Bogotá).- Starting in 2026, electronic slot machines must have a registration before being imported into Colombia.. With the creation of the RIC it will be possible to monitor the destination of these gaming elements and prevent them from being acquired by structures that operate without authorization.In this sense, Coljuegos issued resolution 8594 of 2025, with which it created the Single Registry of Importers and Marketers (RIC). The measure seeks to strengthen control over the entry and sale of electronic slot machines (METS) and close the way to illegality that affects health resources.The president of Coljuegos, Marco Emilio Hincapié Ramírez, stressed that this regulation was a long-awaited need for the localized gaming sector in Colombia."The creation of the RIC is essential to control the import and commercialization of slot machines that enter the country, and to close the way to illegality that does so much damage to health income," he said.During 2025, localized games were consolidated as the main contribution to the subsidized health system, with transfers of $378,268 million, which represented 39% of the sector's collection. Currently, the country has about109,000 legal electronic slot machines, operating in more than 3,700 authorized establishments."It is important to note that METS imports exceeded 22.5 million dollars in 2024, which reflects the magnitude of the market and the urgency of strengthening control," Hincapié said.Thus, importers and marketers will have 45 calendar days to register with the RIC, counted from the publication of Resolution 20260001234 of January 26, 2026.The procedure must be done through the form available on the Coljuegos website. In addition, after 10 days of the nationalization of the merchandise, importers must inform the entity of the destination of each game element."This process will be carried out in an articulated manner with the Directorate of National Taxes and Customs, DIAN, which will allow validating imports of slot machines and their components, guaranteeing that all equipment operating in the country is properly controlled and that the resources effectively reach the public health system," concluded Hincapié.

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With the creation of the RIC it will be possible to monitor the destination of these gaming elements and prevent them from being acquired by structures that operate without authorization.

In this sense, Coljuegos issued resolution 8594 of 2025, with which it created the Single Registry of Importers and Marketers (RIC). The measure seeks to strengthen control over the entry and sale of electronic slot machines (METS) and close the way to illegality that affects health resources.

The president of Coljuegos, Marco Emilio Hincapié Ramírez, stressed that this regulation was a long-awaited need for the localized gaming sector in Colombia.

"The creation of the RIC is essential to control the import and commercialization of slot machines that enter the country, and to close the way to illegality that does so much damage to health income," he said.

During 2025, localized games were consolidated as the main contribution to the subsidized health system, with transfers of $378,268 million, which represented 39% of the sector's collection. Currently, the country has about

109,000 legal electronic slot machines, operating in more than 3,700 authorized establishments.

"It is important to note that METS imports exceeded 22.5 million dollars in 2024, which reflects the magnitude of the market and the urgency of strengthening control," Hincapié said.

Thus, importers and marketers will have 45 calendar days to register with the RIC, counted from the publication of Resolution 20260001234 of January 26, 2026.

The procedure must be done through the form available on the Coljuegos website. In addition, after 10 days of the nationalization of the merchandise, importers must inform the entity of the destination of each game element.

"This process will be carried out in an articulated manner with the Directorate of National Taxes and Customs, DIAN, which will allow validating imports of slot machines and their components, guaranteeing that all equipment operating in the country is properly controlled and that the resources effectively reach the public health system," concluded Hincapié.

Fuente original: Coljuegos