Colombia, a country in South America, has legalized gambling only in
casinos. However, pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, greyhound racing,
and the sport of jai alai are perhaps more popular than casino
gambling. There are approximately 21 Colombia casinos, however, that
are visited by tourists and locals alike and the majority of these are
located in Bogotá, the capital. Many of these casinos offer the usual
games of blackjack, roulette, and poker. Poker games may not be
specifically mentioned in some casinos; however, they are available and
they can include Caribbean Stud, Texas and Omaha Hold'em, and other
types of poker. It is important to remember, however, that playing
three-card Monte is strictly illegal in Colombia, and if found doing so,
may result in imprisonment or a hefty fine.
The Colombia casinos in Bogotá include the Casino Caribe Norte, with 129
slots and five table games and open 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.; the Casino
Rock'n Jazz, with 150 slots and 12 table games, and Club Jacks, with
three types of poker tables. In addition, there are five different
Slotmania Casinos, with only slot and gaming machines.
The largest Colombia casino, the 32,000 square foot Casino Caribe in
Medillin, is open 24 hours and has 16 table games and 400 slot and video
gaming machines. Also in Medillin are the Casino Aladdin, the
Excalibur, and the Rio, offering slots only.
There is one casino in the city of Palmira, the Casino El Castillo,
which has 50 slots and three table games, and is open Monday through
Thursday, 9 am to 1 am, Friday and Saturday, 9 am to 2 am, and Sunday,
12 am to 12 pm. Another Colombia casino with 72 slots only, the Casino
Internacional, is in the city of San Andres. Cucuta, Colombia, has the
Casino El Dorado and Hotel, with 30 slots and six table games of
blackjack, punto banco, poker, and roulette and is open 24 hours. The
city of Cartagena features La Perla del Caribe casino, with 60 slots and
11 popular table games.
For something different in the city of Cali there is the Cali Gran
Casino, which has live entertainment, a restaurant, and bar, as well as
180 slots, five table games, and a 100 seats for bingo. The Gran Casino
is open daily from 12 pm to 4 am. An even larger casino in Cali is the
Hollywood Casino and Café-Concert, with 220 tables and sixteen table
games.
As in most South American countries, Colombia has strict gambling rules,
and although illegal gambling can be found in out-of-the-way places, it
is certainly advisable not to frequent these establishments.
