Coljuegos seizes 778 machines in its biggest ever Colombia raid

The Colombian regulator has seized 778 illegal gaming machines worth nearly COP$3bn (£601,000) in its biggest ever raid on the land-based industry.

Coljuegos said the items were used to place illegal bets in the provinces of Atlántico, Magdalena, César and Guajira.

A total of 114 electronic slot machines, 427 virtual betting modules, 120 televisions and 117 other devices such as printers and ticket machines were seized in 21 premises located across six municipalities including Ciénaga and Maicao.

Fourteen people have bene prosecuted as a result of the raid and Coljuegos is demanding that the ownership of a Valledupar warehouse – where it said illegal machines were manufactured – is forfeited.

Meanwhile, the Azar Games and Atlantis Games betting houses in Valledupar have been ordered to pay $50bn (£10.02m) in penalties.

Coljuegos president Marco Emilio Hincapié said: “As the national government, we are not going to allow Coljuegos, due to illegal betting houses, to stop receiving resources that should be allocated for the wellbeing of Colombians.

“We will continue to be implacable with those who try to evade the responsibility of contributing resources to health.”

He added: “This is the largest operation that Coljuegos has carried out since it existed as a regulatory entity for games of luck and chance.

“As an entity, we have decided to implement a legal strategy that defends the interests of Colombians and prevents impunity for those responsible for defrauding the state.”