Recently, six Latin American countries announced the creation of the International Federation of Gambling Associations (FIJA). The initiative united Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic into a single structure for the development of joint standards and the promotion of responsible gambling practices in the gaming market.
This event attracted the attention of experts and industry participants, as the region faces pressing issues of coordination, combating illegal business, and integration on the global stage.
The Latin American Gambling Market
Gambling in Latin America is a large-scale and multi-layered industry. According to H2 Gambling Capital, the total market volume exceeds $11 billion per year, and the growth rates remain among the highest in the world (H2GC estimate, 2023).
Despite the financial attractiveness of the sector, most countries face a fragmented legal landscape, a lack of unified rules, and difficulties in sharing experience.
Regulators note that the lack of coordination between states facilitates the work of illegal operators. According to the Inter-American Development Bank, the share of the “grey” market ranges from 20% to 40% depending on the country.
This factor, as well as the effort to reduce risks for players and increase transparency, formed the basis for seeking joint solutions. The question of the need for unification had been discussed for more than a year, but only in 2024 did the countries take a real step towards creating a single platform.
The Path to the Creation of the Federation
The founders of FIJA are the national gambling associations of Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic. Key events unfolded during GAT Expo Mexico, one of the largest industry exhibitions in the region (Semana, 2024). It was here that the new federation was officially presented, and strategic goals were outlined.
A special role in the process belongs to Colombia and the president of FECOLJUEGOS, Evert Montero Cárdenas, who was appointed as the first chairman of FIJA for three years.
As the organizers explain, the discussion began at the GAT Academy educational platform in Mexico City, where the project was called the “Latin American Network of Gambling Associations.”
After a series of negotiations, it was decided to grant international status to the organization and to choose the name Federación Internacional de Juegos de Azar.
The new federation announced several priority areas of work. At the core is the concept of “responsible gambling,” that is, the creation of conditions in which market participants minimize health risks for players, combat addiction, and promote transparency. This term implies the introduction of self-exclusion mechanisms, educational programs, and a payment monitoring system.
FIJA’s objectives include:
- development of dialogue among national regulators, operators, and public organizations,
- exchange of best global practices, organization of joint educational events,
- promotion of unified regulatory standards (including licensing and auditing),
- coordinating efforts to counter the illegal sector,
- representation of Latin American interests on the international stage.
At this stage, the question arises: how effective will these initiatives be given the different economic realities of the participants?
Organizational Structure and Legal Support
The structure of FIJA is based on the principle of representation: the governing bodies include the presidents of the national associations of the participating countries.
To launch its work, a temporary committee was formed, tasked with preparing the charter, regulations, and internal rules of the federation. This body will determine the mechanisms for governance and oversight of implementation.
Legal support for the association is provided by the Colombian company Vásquez y Asociados. Its experts prepare draft documents and consult on compliance with national and international legal standards.
This approach should reduce the risks of legal conflicts, although experts do not rule out that conflicts between national laws may arise (Semana, according to industry experts).
Will FIJA Be Able to Go Beyond Latin America?
From the outset, the organizers of the federation announced plans to expand cooperation to the markets of Europe, North America, and Asia. Such ambitions are explained by the desire to represent the interests of Latin American structures in the global dialogue and to strengthen influence on the development of international standards.
Moreover, this initiative is also relevant because the same iGaming brands are popular in many regions of the world. For example, Melbet, Parimatch, or Megapari. Many residents of India decide to register 1win, and the same idea occurs to citizens of El Salvador or Argentina.
In addition, such a step may open up new opportunities for experience sharing, but it is accompanied by certain challenges. Different regions have their own legal norms, and integrating them with Latin American specifics will require additional efforts.
As an example, the European Gaming Association has been developing its own standards and participating in global discussions for many years. Whether FIJA will become a similar focal point will be shown by the implementation of the first intercontinental projects.
GAT Expo and other industry events traditionally serve as platforms for discussing trends, sharing experience, and seeking solutions for the industry.
This year, it was at GAT Expo that the launch of FIJA was announced, which experts consider a landmark event (Semana, according to exhibition participants). Supporters of the association claim that the emergence of the federation could become a starting point for a new stage in the development of the gambling market in Latin America.
Expert opinions are divided: some consider such integration a key to greater transparency and protection of players’ rights, while others point to possible problems of coordination and competition between national regulators.
According to lawyer Juan Rivera, a significant challenge will be the differences in the laws and tax policies of the states, as well as the interests of large business lobbyists. So far, the degree of FIJA’s success is assessed cautiously by experts, based on the presented plans and the experience of other regional platforms.
Development Prospects
FIJA participants plan to launch joint educational and informational programs, create platforms for knowledge exchange between countries, and coordinate special projects to combat illegal operators. The possibility of implementing common digital monitoring tools and analytics of player behavior is also being considered.
It is expected that in the coming years, the federation will actively attract new members and expand the range of activities. Whether Latin American countries will be able to offer a working model for other regional unions remains an open question for analysts and market participants.
It is also worth noting that the gambling market is developing not only in Latin America, but also in the United States. In some states, there are ongoing debates about the legalization of betting and gambling.
Many experts believe that after changes in legislation, the US could become one of the largest iGaming markets in the world.