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History of gambling in Chile
Before "big laws": the heyday of private initiative and local entertainment
The game's traditions took root in Chile long before modern casinos - in holidays, fairs, private clubs and racetracks. The beginning of the "casino-history" is associated with coastal resorts of the early XX century. One of the first halls was located in Pichilemu in a building built by entrepreneur Agustin Ross (1906-1909); the object is recognized as a monument and has long appeared in historiography as "the first Chilean casino." Later, the country's main "official" casino appeared in Viña del Mar (1931).
In parallel, other legal channels of excitement were issued - lotteries and hippodromes. The de Concepcion Lottery dates back to 1921 and is associated with the financing of the University of Concepcion; The state-owned Polla Chilena de Beneficencia was established in 1934 as a national lottery. In horse racing, mutual (betting) rates were traditionally allowed, which is recorded in the specialized norms on hypodromes. These lines - lotto and racetracks - became the legal "axis" of the industry for many years.
The second half of the 20th century: fragmentary base and local foci
Until the 1990s, casinos remained rare and "spot," and regulation remained mosaic. Playrooms and resort facilities arose as local initiatives, often without a single national architecture of the industry. The most stable were lotteries (Polla, Lottery de Concepcion) and hippodromes, where the legal regime was relatively defined.
Turning point: Ley 19. 995 (2005) and the creation of SCJ
On January 7, 2005, Chile adopted Law No. 19. 995, which laid the foundations of the modern model: established the Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego (SCJ), defined the category of "casino" as a separate class of gambling and prescribed rules for permission, functioning and supervision. At the level of by-laws of the Ministry of Finance, the procedure for issuing permits, the composition of the SCJ Council, monitoring and the "catalog of games" were detailed. This reform "institutionalized" the segment and opened the door to new resort projects across the country.
What changed after 2005: the sector began to grow actively due to "integral projects" - casinos as part of the tourist infrastructure (hotels, congress sites), which was conceived as an incentive for regional development and tourism.
2010s: operator consolidation and diversification
In the 2010s, the market was entrenched in a new format: provincial and resort casinos operated under a single "casino license" under the control of SCJ, while lotteries (Polla and Lottery de Concepcion) and racetracks continued to operate under their own laws/charters. Practical law reviews emphasize the division into three "branches" of regulation: casinos (Ley 19. 995), lotteries (separate laws), horse racing (general and special norms).
2020s: online dispute and "blocking"
By the early 2020s, online betting and casinos remained outside the special law, and courts and regulators consistently considered them illegal until there was a direct rule on permission. In 2023-2025, the topic peaked: the Ministry of Justice argued with the ANFP football league over sponsorships of "online" brands, and the Chilean Supreme Court in 2025 upheld the line to block unlicensed sites - communication providers were ordered to close access to platforms without permission, which SCJ accompanied with public statements about the need for an online gambling law. In parallel, the Senate resumed discussion of the corresponding bill.
How it works today (legal "matrix")
Casinos: Regulated by Ley 19. 995 and supervised by SCJ; roulette, card and bone games, bingo and slots are allowed - the list is fixed in legal guides and SCJ catalogs.
Lotteries: two historical "axes" - the Lottery de Concepcion (since 1921) and the state Polla (since 1934), each according to its own charter/law.
Horse racing: mutual bets (tote) are regulated by special norms of the "general law on hypodromes" and subsequent changes.
Online betting/casino: for October 2025 - without a special law, judicial practice and regulatory position interpret the activities of platforms without permission as illegal; the political process on the bill continues.
Cultural heritage: from "resort glamor" to national lotto symbols
Early halls, like Ross's casino in Pichilemu, reflected the European fashion for coastal leisure at the beginning of the 20th century. Over the years, Cinema and other formats of the Lottery de Concepcion have become symbols of "popular fortune," and Polla is an integral part of charity and sports programs. This cultural seam is an important context of the current debate about advertising, player protection and the role of gambling in the economy.
Milestones (timeline)
1906–1917. Resort Pichilemu: one of the first halls (today - a cultural center, a monument of national importance).
1931. Opening of Casino de Viña del Mar; other "unofficial" casinos are declared illegal.
1921 / 1934. The first draw of the Lottery de Concepción (1921); Polla Chilena institution (1934).
2005. Ley 19. 995 and the creation of SCJ - the start of a new era of resort casinos and uniform rules.
2025. The Supreme Court confirms the course to block illegal online platforms; The SCJ is calling for an online gaming law.
The history of gambling in Chile is the path from local resort halls and "classics" (lotteries, racetracks) to the modern regulated casino industry after the 2005 reform. Today, the main fork is the legalization and regulation of online: the courts and SCJ require transparent rules, and the policy of 2025 again brought the topic to parliament. Regardless of the outcome, the Chilean model remains pivotal for the region: tight oversight of the "land," strong lotteries and a willingness to bring the digital segment to the same clear standards.