A new Latin American gaming federation has been formally established, bringing together industry associations from Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.

The organisation, the International Gaming Federation, was created to strengthen regional cooperation, promote responsible growth, and present a unified voice for the gaming sector under principles of legality, innovation and social responsibility.

During its founding ceremony last week, member countries appointed Evert Montero Cárdenas, president of Colombia’s Fecoljuegos (The Colombian Federation of Gambling Entrepreneurs), as the federation’s first president.

He will serve a three-year term, chosen in recognition of Colombia’s progress in promoting formalisation, legality and responsible regulation of the industry.

Montero said of the new endeavour: “This is a historic step that transcends borders. From Colombia we proudly assume the responsibility of leading a process that will allow us to join international efforts, build a collective voice and ensure that our industry develops responsibly, sustainably and for the benefit of society.”

The federation has set out to serve as a platform for sharing good practices, synthesising regional experiences and tackling cross-border challenges such as regulatory inconsistencies and the need to adapt to technological change.

Its members have emphasised that responsible regulation, transparency and sustainability will guide the group’s work in shaping the future of the sector.

While the initiative begins with six countries, expansion is already on the agenda.

Several Latam countries ready to sign on

Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Panama have expressed interest in joining, and the federation also intends to reach beyond Latin America by inviting associations from Europe, North America and Asia to participate in the coming years.

By creating a collective structure, the member nations aim to align fragmented approaches that have historically characterised the industry.

They seek to establish a co-ordinated paradigm that can address risks such as illegal operations while promoting responsible growth opportunities.

The appointment of Montero provides leadership for the federation’s first stage, but the organisation was built as a joint effort by its founding countries.

This isn’t the first time that a unified body for Latin America has been suggested or created. Plans for an Ibero-American Commission of Gaming Regulators were presented by Colombia’s Coljuegos at the 9th Ibero-American Gaming Summit in May.

This proposed commission seeks to bring together regulators across all Ibero-American countries. If formed, the organisation’s purpose, as laid out by Coljuegos President Marco Emilio Hincapié at the time, is to share best practices, coordinate strategies, and strengthen collective regulatory efforts.

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