TLDR
- Colombia introduced a 16% consumption tax on all deposits made to online gambling platforms through Decrees 0240 and 0241
- The tax applies every time a player deposits funds into a betting account, not on winnings
- Deposits made via cash, bank transfers, and crypto assets are all subject to the tax
- The tax covers both domestic deposits and those made from abroad into Colombian betting accounts
- Online gambling operators are responsible for collecting the tax and paying it to the government
Colombia has rolled out a new tax targeting online gambling deposits. The government published Decrees 0240 and 0241, which impose a 16% consumption tax on funds deposited into online betting accounts.
The tax applies to all games of chance operated exclusively through the internet. It takes effect the moment a player puts money into a betting account.
Unlike taxes on gambling winnings seen in other countries, this one targets the deposit side. Players are taxed when they fund their accounts, not when they cash out.
Every single deposit triggers the tax. There is no minimum threshold mentioned in the decrees.
The scope of the tax is broad when it comes to payment methods. Cash deposits, bank transfers, and crypto asset deposits are all covered under the new rules.
Crypto Deposits Fall Under the Same Tax Rules
The inclusion of crypto assets is worth paying attention to. Colombia has been seeing growing use of digital currencies, and the government is making clear that crypto deposits into gambling platforms will not escape taxation.
This puts crypto on equal footing with traditional payment methods under the new framework. There is no special exemption or different rate for digital asset deposits.
The tax also reaches beyond Colombia’s borders. Deposits made from abroad into a Colombian betting account are subject to the same 16% rate.
This means that even if a player is physically outside Colombia, their deposit into a local platform still gets taxed. The decrees specify that funds entered “within the national territory or from abroad” are covered.
Operators Must Collect and Remit the Tax
The responsibility for collecting this tax does not fall on the players themselves. Online gambling operators are the ones who must handle it.
Operators are required to collect the 16% tax at the point of deposit. They must then remit those funds to the Colombian government as part of their tax obligations.
This adds a new compliance layer for companies running online betting services in the country. They will need to adjust their systems to account for the tax on every deposit.
The decrees also include enforcement provisions. Operators that fail to comply with the new tax rules face sanctions from Colombian regulatory and supervisory bodies.
The specific penalties for non-compliance were not detailed in the available information. However, the inclusion of enforcement language signals that the government intends to actively monitor compliance.
Colombia has been expanding its regulatory approach to online gambling in recent years. This tax adds a new revenue stream for the government from the growing digital betting sector.
The decrees do not appear to set an implementation grace period. Operators are expected to begin collecting the tax as outlined in the published decrees.
There was no immediate public response from major online gambling operators active in Colombia. The crypto industry also has not issued any formal statements about the new tax treatment.
The 16% rate applies uniformly across all deposit types and sources. Colombia’s new online gambling deposit tax took effect with the publication of Decrees 0240 and 0241 on March 16, 2026.
