Online gambling: I was in the "gray zone" for a long time, but from 2023-2024 there is a legalization process

Briefly about the status of "yesterday and today"

Until the mid-2020s, Chile did not have a special law on online gambling, so the sites operated outside the direct permit regime. Judicial practice began to interpret them as illegal until the law is adopted - this position was first entrenched in the decision of the Supreme Court of September 2023 (blocking a number of sites through a communication provider), and then developed in 2025, when the Supreme Court ordered to block access to unlicensed platforms throughout the country.

From the "gray zone" to the draft law: what happened in 2023-2025

September 2023. The Supreme Court confirms: online betting platforms without special permission in Chile are illegal activities; the communication provider is ordered to block 23 sites. This was the starting point for a "tough" law enforcement line.

2024. The executive branch is actively promoting the bill "On the regulation of online betting platforms" (Boletín 14838-03), which has been under discussion in Congress since 2022 and has passed to the second constitutional reading in the Senate by 2024-2025.

June-August 2025. The Ministry of Finance and the Senate publish materials on the key parameters of the bill; August 6-13, 2025 - profile commissions and then a meeting of the Senate approve the draft in general form (votes 27 "for," 3 "against," 5 ″.) . This is the main political signal: Chile is moving towards legalization and full regulation of online.

September-October 2025. The Supreme Court reaffirms the course towards immediate blocking of illegal platforms (an order to telecom operators Claro, Entel, Movistar, WOM, VTR, etc.), which emphasizes: until the law is passed, online is out of bounds.

What the Online Platforms (Core Blocks) Bill Proposes

1. Protecting the player and "public faith." Game/accident certification, emphasis on preventing ludomania, special measures for minors.

2. Compliance and transparency. Complete identification, AML/CTF procedures, requirements for sources and use of funds.

3. Fiscal arrangements and sport funding. The project includes new deductions for sports: an annual 2% of the gross income of authorized sports books - in favor of the National Institute of Sports with distribution between federations, NOCs and the Paralympic Committee; in parallel, the share of the Xperto product (Polla) increases.

4. Advertising frameworks. Tighter advertising/sponsorship rules, "responsible communication" standard. The approach is designed to legitimize the market without spontaneous commercialization.

Current status: The bill is on the Senate track and moving forward on articles/amendments. Until final acceptance and promulgación, online operators are not considered licensed.

Why online before the adoption of the law is "out of bounds"

The executive branch directly indicates: the platforms currently operating in Chile are operating illegally, which is repeatedly repeated in the presentations of the Ministry of Finance and formed the basis of judicial decisions. Therefore, the only way to the "white" status is a new law and a permissive regime (by analogy with an offline casino under SCJ, but with its "own" digital circuit).

What does this mean for the market (operators, sports, media)

Operators. Prepare for full compliance localization: KYC/AML, certification, advertising restrictions, fiscal payments. Technically - build an architecture with local payment providers, verification and monitoring.

Professional sports. When the law is passed, the federations and the Olympic movement will receive a sustainable source of funding (2% GGR from authorized bets + Xperto share increase). This would legalize and streamline sponsorship.

Media and clubs. Advertising and integration will be possible only within the agreed rules; before the entry of the law - a high risk of sanctions and legal claims.

Prediction: Trajectory to 2030

1. Short-lived (before the adoption of the law). Enforcement remains tough: ISP blocking + public stance on illegality. This is holding back the "gray" expansion and pushing platforms to wait for a license.

2. After acceptance. A quick transition to a permissive regime with a priority of responsible play and transparent taxation; probably phased implementation of the regulations (certification, audits, registries).

3. BY 2030. Formed online market with limited advertising, sustainable sports financing and full-fledged barriers for illegal immigrants (through payments/blocking and sanctions mechanism).

FAQ

Are online betting legal in Chile now?

Not yet: judicial practice and the position of the state consider platforms illegal until the adoption of a special law, which is confirmed by the decisions of the Supreme Court (2023/2025) and current blockages.

Where to track the progress of the bill?

On page Boletín 14838-03 of the Chamber of Deputies/Senate (status: second reading), as well as in the news of the Ministry of Finance and the Senate.

What key taxes/deductions are discussed?

Among the measures - 2% GGR of authorized sports books for sports and an increase in the share of Xperto (Polla) in favor of IND. Details may vary by amendment.

Online gambling in Chile really remained in the "gray zone" for a long time, but with the decisions of the Supreme Court of 2023 and the active agenda 2024-2025, a structural transition to legalization began: the draft law passed key approval in the Senate and sets strict standards for player protection, compliance, taxes and advertising. Until its final adoption, online remains illegal, and the state will continue the policy of blocking and law enforcement.