The Colombian Council of State has suspended the limit operators can spend on advertising, reversing several other measures introduced in 2023’s Resolution 20231000019054 by the country’s regulator, Coljuegos.
In the provisional suspension ruling, brought by a lawsuit filed by Sora Lawyers, the Council of State also halted obligations for operators to submit and track advertising investment plans to the regulator, as well as provisions allowing concession contracts to be denied based on advertising, trademarks or operator-affiliated suppliers.
The decision came after the Council of State said the resolution was “issued without due process” and that Coljuegos “assumed regulatory powers that it did not have”.
It also noted the resolution “disregarded economic freedom and free competition” by introducing qualitative and quantitative restrictions on advertising without legal authorisation.
The ruling added that the investment favoured operators with larger market share and introduced barriers of entry for those looking to enter Colombia, particularly smaller entities.
The document read: “Finally, he argued that the challenged Act disregarded principle of legality, sanctions and due process by creating adverse consequences and restrictions not provided for in the law.”
In announcing the suspension, Sora Lawyers managing partner Juan Camilo Carrasco posted on LinkedIn: “While this is a provisional measure, suspending the effects of a significant portion of this regulation already stands as one of the most relevant legal milestones for the industry in recent years – and the Sora Lawyers team is proud to have led this initiative.
“The decision reopens a fundamental debate over the limits of the administration’s regulatory authority and the scope of Coljuegos’ powers over an industry that already operates within a robust legal and contractual framework.”
The resolution, introduced on 1 January 2024, saw the advertising of games not authorised by Coljuegos prohibited, operators forced to submit to the regulator an advertisement investment plan, and advertising investment caps imposed on the industry.
The suspension is the latest regulatory change this year after a court in January paused December’s emergency 19% VAT on gross gaming revenue, introduced in February 2025 initially as a 19% VAT on player deposits.
The deposit tax was replaced by a 16% tax on revenue, decreed until the end of 2026, though this could end up being scrapped depending on who wins the run-off for the presidential election between far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist politician Ivan Cepedo.
Speaking to EGR in May, Rush Street Interactive (RSI) CFO and president Kyle Sauers discussed the regulatory headwinds in Colombia, a market where the New York-listed company operates its RushBet brand.
Other brands besides RushBet live in Colombia, a country which regulated online gambling a decade ago, include market leader BetPlay, as well as Betsson, Wplay, Betano and Codere Online.
The post Colombia’s Council of State suspends marketing restrictions on operators first appeared on EGR Intel.
Sora Lawyers managing partner Juan Camilo Carrasco says provisional ruling “reopens a fundamental debate” over gambling regulator’s authority
The post Colombia’s Council of State suspends marketing restrictions on operators first appeared on EGR Intel.