Carlos Augusto Liseras Osorio in GAT: “We are in a process of frontal fight against illegality”

Within the Gelsa group panel on the “Future of gaming and the perspectives of the network of networks model in the global market”, Carlos Liseras Osorio, president of Cornajzar (National Gaming Commission) began his speech by thanking Coljuegos President Marco Emilio Hincapié for the visit they made to the Colombian regulatory body in which he comments that he learned concepts to apply in the Paraguayan games of chance legislation.

In this sense, Liseras Osorio highlighted that “we are working on a project to completely modify Law 1016 that regulates games of chance in Paraguay. That law's days are numbered. We have a draft that will completely modify the legislation and will allow new modalities of the game to be developed within the legal framework” and he continued “At this moment we are doing it through presidential decrees and resolutions of the regulatory entity. We want to modify the regulations to adjust them at a global level since globalization is a reality and natural and legal persons dedicated to the exploitation of games of chance have to work with Paraguay. We are going to modify the regulation and adapt new technologies to achieve that objective and make important agreements to develop new technology” and added: “We can invest and ensure that the regulatory entity fulfills its fundamental role”

Furthermore, Osorio commented that “We are in a process of frontal fight against illegality. We have many problems in the 17 departments of the country with clandestine exploitation. However, the government has given precise instructions for a fight against this scourge that, from what I have heard, affects several countries, even those that have stronger and more rigid legislation on the matter.”

Latin American regulation

When asked about the possibility of generating Latin American regulation for the gaming market, Osorio did not hesitate to show his enthusiasm: “it is a fantastic initiative by the Colombian regulatory body, it is a proposal in line with our times, globalization is a reality But at this moment we do not have Latin American regulations that can allow new gaming modalities to be regulated, it will take time. But I definitely join that initiative.”

Responsible gaming

Another topic on which he was consulted about were the measures that are being carried out in Paraguay to promote responsible gambling. On this point, Osorio was very direct “There is a law that, starting in 2015, establishes a code of ethics, as well as a resolution from the regulatory body in that sense that makes permanent control possible. At this moment in Paraguay we are in a process of frontal fight against clandestine games in all their modalities."

In relation to clandestine gambling, a problem that plagues Latin America, the president of Cornajzar revealed that “we have a study that indicates that 150,000 slot machines operate clandestinely in Paraguay. A very high figure. “We have carried out closures of clandestine premises, raids, arrests and judicial proceedings, but they are insufficient taking into account this scourge that has spread throughout the country.”

Finally, Osorio closed his speech by commenting that in Paraguay “we also have clandestine pool operations, bingos, sports betting and clandestine horse racing. This causes tremendous damage and generates gambling addiction. “It also affects health because gambling resources are invested in the health area.”