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Prospects for legalization and regulation (Chile)
Summary Today (October 2025)
Chile's Senate approved a general bill to regulate online betting and gaming platforms; the document passed to article-by-article consideration in specialized commissions (Economics and Finance).
The Supreme Court reaffirmed the position: online gambling without special permission is illegal, and ordered to block unlicensed sites from communication providers. This increased pressure on the "gray" market before the entry of the new norm.
The Ministry of Finance publicly defends the project as a tool for protecting players, transparency of flows and leveling conditions between local and foreign operators, fixing the basic parameters of the future regime.
What exactly is planned to be regulated
Licensing and Supervision
Licensing of online betting platforms and games is introduced; oversight powers are consolidated on the basis of Extended Superintendence (SCJ) with a focus on the online segment.
Taxes and fees
The basic architecture provides for a special tax on gross gaming income (GGR) of about 20% plus VAT of 19% (on par with local and offshore operators working with Chile). The exact rates and distribution of receipts are specified in the item phase.
Advertising, sports and protection of minors
The project enshrines advertising restrictions and strengthens sponsorship controls in sports, given previously advanced initiatives to ban promos in clubs and broadcasts; priority - protection of children and youth.
Why it's happening now
1. Legal certainty. After the decisions of the Supreme Court of 2023 and 2025, the position of the state became unambiguous: without a special norm, online games are illegal → you need to legalize and control in order to protect the consumer and stop the gray market.
2. Fiscal motivation. The bill counts on sustainable revenues through GGR tax and VAT, as well as on the "whitewashing" of operators.
3. Responsible play. The frame focuses on RG tools (limits, self-exclusion, age verification), randomness certification and transparency of sources of funds.
Possible timelines and roadmap
Stage 1: article-by-article consideration in the Senate. Until key parameters (licenses, taxes, advertising, RG) are agreed.
Stage 2: return to the commission/conciliation procedure (if necessary), then - the Chamber of Deputies and promulgation. (Institutional logic confirmed in Treasury communique.)
Transition period after the publication of the law: the creation of regulations, the regulator's IT infrastructure, a window for operators to submit applications. (Expected by the project of the Ministry of Finance as a standard implementation path.)
Future mode: how it will affect players and operators
For the players
More protection: age verification, limits, quick complaint channels.
Transparent payments and taxes: formalization of onboarding, clear cash-out and identification regulations. (Directly follows from the objectives of the bill and SCJ practices.)
For operators
License and local reporting: RNG audit, payment compliance, GGR/VAT reports, advertising activity control.
Sanctions for illegal activities: against the background of decisions of the Supreme Court - blocking domains/traffic and fines.
Key contentious knots in debate
1. Tax rates and distribution of revenues (variation in estimates of budget revenues and impact on margins).
2. Depth of advertising restrictions (especially in football) and transition periods for existing sponsorship deals.
3. Equivalence of requirements for offshore and local operators (equal rules for VAT and control).
What to do business now
Legal audit for past activity in Chile and lockout risks; Prepare a license release/localization strategy.
Financial model taking into account 20% GGR + 19% VAT (margin stress test, adaptation of bonus policy).
Marketing matrix for the scenario of severe advertising/sponsorship restrictions: a shift in performance channels and RG communication.
Technical compliance: RNG, AML/KYC certifications, responsible play tools, localization of payments in CLP. (Requirements derive from SCJ project objectives and practices.)
Forecast 12-24 months
Basic scenario: adoption of the law with the launch of licenses after the period of secondary rulemaking; active "cleansing" of the market through locks and fines before permits are issued.
Risks of delays: Political discussion on taxes and advertising could lengthen article-by-article consideration.
The result for players: access to legal platforms with local protection of rights and clear rules.
Links to key primary sources
Communiqué of the Ministry of Finance of Chile on voting in the Senate (August 13, 2025).
Presentation of the Ministry of Finance on the draft law (June 16, 2025).
Tax configuration materials (GGR ~ 20%, VAT 19%).
Supreme Court decisions to block unlicensed sites (September-October 2025).
Reports on the passage of the bill in the Senate and subsequent steps.
Conclusion: Chile has entered the final phase of the formation of a licensing regime for online games: political will, judicial practice and fiscal goals are lined up in one vector. For the industry, this means an early "whitening" of the market, an increase in compliance and advertising requirements and, as a result, a more stable ecosystem for players and operators.