Colombia: 240,000+ users self-exclude in online market
The online gaming market in Colombia, one of the most mature and regulated in the region, continues to yield revealing data about the maturity of its consumers. According to recent figures from Coljuegos, between 2024 and 2025, a total of 245,199 citizens have voluntarily requested to be excluded from online betting platforms. This figure is not seen by the regulator as a market loss, but rather as a success of prevention policies and a sign that protection mechanisms are working for those who feel they have lost control over their activity.
Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos, attributes this volume of registrations to the impact of strategies such as the campaign "Take control, play it safe". The objective, according to the official, is to consolidate gaming exclusively as a form of entertainment and not as an addiction. The self-exclusion tool, which is mandatory on the platforms of the 14 authorized operators in the country, allows blocking any bet associated with the applicant's identity document, ensuring an effective barrier to curb risky behaviors.
Profile of self-exclusion
The Coljuegos report provides a clear profile of who is using these security mechanisms in Colombia. The data shows a marked gender gap that has remained constant: 81% of requests correspond to men, while the remaining 19% belong to women. This statistic is key for operators when designing their own monitoring tools and early detection of risk patterns in their user bases.
Geographically, the phenomenon is concentrated in the country's main economic and demographic centers. Antioquia leads the list with 21.39% of registrations in 2025, followed closely by Bogotá, which accounts for 19.07%. Other departments such as Valle del Cauca, Atlántico, and Santander also show significant figures, suggesting that in areas with higher internet penetration and gaming offerings, awareness of self-care is also proportionally higher.
For the industry, these numbers reinforce the importance of legal certainty and corporate responsibility. The consolidation of self-exclusion as an everyday tool reflects that Colombians are increasingly aware of the risks of excessive gambling. Coljuegos promises to continue strengthening these digital environments together with operators, understanding that a safe ecosystem is the only way to guarantee the long-term sustainability of the business in a country that remains a benchmark for iGaming in Latin America.
Tags: Colombia, self-excluded players Colombia, responsible gaming Colombia, online betting Colombia