Colombia´s Ministry of Health green-lights pilot reopening plan for casinos and bingo halls

After many months of suffering the effects of the pandemic and introducing possible measures to combat it in order to resume operations of its public services, Colombia has finally obtained the go ahead that will enable casinos to resume their activities.

The establishments, that have been prepared and equipped with the sanitary measures necessary, have adapted the requirements of the resolution 666 of 2020, and the recommendations attached with it from the World Health Organization.  

The protocol that will be applied has the highest standards and sanitary measures, taken from the practices of countries that have experienced the pandemic and its consequences already.

Some of these measures are, the use of physical barriers between gaming machines to prevent contagion, prohibiting the consumption of alcohol and food as well as gaming chips constantly being disinfected after each use, and the whole establishment every three hours.  

Evert Montero Cárdenas, president of Fecioljuegos, mentioned about the implementation of the protocol that "with the resolution, the mayors of all the country's municipalities are no longer impeded from moving forward, as soon as possible, with the implementation of the pilot plans authorized by the National Government (...) The country's casinos and bingo halls are committed to the health and well-being of Colombians, which is why we are concerned with adapting our spaces, with sufficient guarantees to provide security and confidence to our employees, clients and their families.”

He added, "during the time of obligatory isolation in which casinos and bingo halls have been temporarily closed, the country has ceased to receive income for public finances in the amount of $225 billion pesos, $150 billion pesos for the health of Colombians and $75 billion pesos in VAT, resources which, given the public health challenges we face, are necessary to deal with the effects of COVID-19."