(short): Monopoly online: La Banca (Uruguay)

Online gambling: state monopoly via La Banca de Quinielas (Uruguay)

Introductory: what is legal online

In Uruguay, any online gambling without special permission is illegal. This is explicitly enshrined in Ley 19. 535 and deployed in Decreto 366/017, which additionally prohibits advertising of unlicensed online games and provides for blocking sites and financial flows.

Against this background, the only allowed online product is sports betting through Supermatch, which is officially positioned as "the only bookmaker in Uruguay."

Who runs: MEF → DNLQ → La Banca → Supermatch

DNLQ (Dirección Nacional de Loterías y Quinielas) is a unit of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) that publishes regulatory clarifications and warnings to citizens/media: "online gaming/betting is prohibited without permission; advertising of such services is also prohibited."

La Banca de Quinielas is a state-sanctioned distribution network for Uruguay's official games (Quiniela, Tómbola, 5 de Oro, eRaspadita and Supermatch). Its portal emphasizes "official games" and the presence of Supermatch in the lineup.

Supermatch is a brand through which the only legal online sports bets (web, mobile applications) are sold.

Legal foundation of monopoly

1. General prohibition: remote casinos/poker/games "via the Internet, platforms, applications" are prohibited if they do not have a government-issued permit; advertising and sponsorship of illegal immigrants is also prohibited.

2. The only legal channel for sports betting is Supermatch in the state perimeter (MEF/DNLQ/La Banca). The brand itself emphasizes the monopoly status: "La única casa de apuestas deportivas del Uruguay."

3. Enforcement 2025: the state actively reminds media and clubs to ban advertising of illegal operators and blocking; specialized media record such warnings.

How it works for the player

Legal channels: Supermatch website and mobile application (App Store entry is relevant for Uruguay).

What is prohibited: any offshore sites/applications not authorized by DNLQ/MEF; their advertising is prohibited in Uruguay, access and payment flows may be blocked.

Official La Banca games: in addition to bets - Quiniela, Tómbola, 5 de Oro, etc., which remain in the "white" state circuit.

How it works for business/media

Operators and affiliates: without state permission - online work is impossible; advertising of illegal immigrants threatens with sanctions and public warnings.

Media/sports clubs: cannot accept sponsorship or advertise offshore brands; DNLQ directly addresses sites with such warnings.

Frequent questions

Is it possible to legally install online in an office other than Supermatch? No, it isn't. In Uruguay, only Supermatch is allowed; the rest of the online operators are outlawed.

And if you advertise an "international" site? You can't. Advertising/sponsorship of illegal online games is prohibited by Decreto 366/017.

Are there other "official" online games (casino/poker)? No, it isn't; remote casinos/poker are prohibited under the current legal regime.

Uruguay has built a tough monopoly model of the online market: all online games are banned, the exception is sports betting through the state circuit La Banca/DNLQ under the Supermatch brand, which officially and openly declares monopoly status. The regulator consistently protects this perimeter through the prohibition of advertising and blocking illegal immigrants - this ensures predictability for the state and security for players.

• Supermatch — «La única casa de apuestas deportivas del Uruguay».
• DNLQ (MEF) - clarifications on the prohibition of online games/advertising; official portal.
• Decreto 366/017 - prohibition of advertising/sponsorship, blocking access and streams; Ley 19 regulation. 535.
• La Banca — «Juegos Oficiales del Uruguay» (Quiniela, Tómbola, 5 de Oro, eRaspadita, Supermatch).
• Law enforcement news 2025 - media warnings about the ban on advertising illegal immigrants.