Asojuegos Highlights LAFT Congress Impact on the Gaming Sector
Colombia.- 7 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Asojuegos has delivered a positive assessment of the eleventh LAFT América Congress, held in Bogotá on 30 September and 1 October, highlighting the event’s role in strengthening the gaming industry’s position within Colombia’s and Latin America’s wider economy.
Juan Carlos Restrepo, President of the Colombian Association of Gaming Operators, said the conference has helped deepen industry knowledge around compliance and the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing risks.
Industry Reputation
Restrepo said the LAFT Congress has helped change perceptions of the games-of-chance sector.
According to the executive, the industry has positioned itself among the economic sectors taking the most developed approach to managing risks related to:
- Money laundering.
- Terrorist financing.
- Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Beyond the Gaming Industry
The Congress is not limited to gaming-industry representatives.
Participants also include professionals from:
- Compliance.
- Audit.
- Risk management.
- Senior management.
- Corporate boards.
- Financial services.
- Other areas of the wider economy.
Asojuegos believes this diversity increases the value of the event by encouraging the exchange of best practices across industries.
Artificial Intelligence Takes Centre Stage
Artificial intelligence was one of the central themes of this year’s event.
Restrepo acknowledged growing concern over the speed of AI development and its potential impact on compliance, crime prevention and business models.
Asojuegos said its member companies are already evaluating internally how these technologies may affect their operations.
Different Regulatory Approaches
The executive also noted that different regions are taking contrasting approaches towards artificial intelligence.
Europe has placed greater emphasis on control and preventive regulation, while other jurisdictions are encouraging faster technological development.
Asojuegos believes these differences make continued discussion around regulation and self-regulation increasingly important.
Fight Against Illegal Gambling
Restrepo again called for stronger action against unauthorised gambling platforms.
He argued that traditional IP blocking has limited effectiveness because illegal operators can rapidly generate new domains and access points.
Payment Blocking
Asojuegos wants financial controls to play a larger role in tackling illegal gambling.
Among its proposals is a requirement for payment providers to reject transactions linked to unauthorised platforms.
The association also wants these restrictions to extend to virtual assets.
Role of Coljuegos
Restrepo said he hopes the new Coljuegos administration will intensify action against illegal operators.
The regulated industry is seeking closer coordination between the regulator, industry associations, financial institutions and bodies responsible for monitoring suspicious transactions.
Technology and Enforcement
Asojuegos is also examining technological tools used in other jurisdictions to detect and block illegal activity.
Restrepo said several European markets have made progress by combining financial restrictions with specialised technological solutions.
Continuous Training
One of the LAFT Congress’s central objectives is to keep compliance and risk professionals updated as threats evolve.
The growth of new technologies, virtual assets and payment systems requires constant review of traditional prevention mechanisms.
Regional Context
Money laundering and terrorist financing remain significant challenges for sectors handling large transaction volumes.
The regulated gaming industry continues to strengthen identification, monitoring and reporting systems to comply with national and international standards.
Next Steps or Impact
Asojuegos intends to continue using the LAFT Congress as a platform for training and collaboration between the gaming industry and other areas of the economy.
The next challenge will be turning that knowledge into more effective tools against illegal operations, particularly through financial controls, new technologies and stronger coordination between public and private stakeholders.
Editó: @fonta
