(short): Online gambling: limited market (Uruguay)

Online gambling in Uruguay: Limited market

1) Key fact: the online market is still closed

General prohibition. Ley 19 Act. 535 (Art. 244-245) and Decree 366/017 establish: remote gambling and betting are prohibited in Uruguay, unless there is a special permission from the state; advertising/sponsorship of illegal online games is also prohibited and access and payment streams are blocked.

The only exception online is sports betting through Supermatch. On the official website and in public communications it is fixed: Supermatch - "the only bookmaker in Uruguay" and is part of the Juegos Oficiales La Banca line.

2) Who controls and how the "monopoly" is arranged

MEF → DNLQ → La Banca → Supermatch. The Lottery and Quiniel Directorate (DNLQ) within the Ministry of Finance (MEF) is responsible for lottery vertical and supervision; La Banca - distribution network of official games; Supermatch is her online sports betting brand.

State position 2025. DNLQ and MEF publicly warned media and venues: advertising of illegal online games is prohibited; cases are detected on TV and streaming. Journalistic and specialized publications record these warnings.

3) What's legal online for the player

You can: use the Supermatch website/app (sports betting; registration/verification in the Uruguayan legal field).

You can't: play online casinos, online poker and bet at offshore bookmakers without Uruguayan permission; advertising of such services is also prohibited in Uruguay.

Official La Banca games: in addition to Supermatch - Quiniela, Tómbola, 5 de Oro, eRaspadita, etc. (offline/official channels).

4) Enforcement: Blocking and media hygiene

Ad blocking and banning. Decree 366/017 explicitly provides for blocking access to unauthorized sites and prohibiting advertising/sponsorship; in September-October 2025, the regulator massively reminded the media and clubs of this.

Hotline and "Juego Ilegal" section. The DNLQ portal has a page for complaints about illegal online gaming content.

5) Taxes and money: What's important to know

The new special tax of 0.75% is about offline. From August 12, 2025, Impuesto a las Apuestas is valid: 0.75% of the amount of each bet in casinos and gambling halls (cash/chips/electronic funds). The payer is the player, but the operator holds and lists in the DGI as "responsible sustituto." Norms in Decree 167/025 and clarifications in the materials of KPMG and law firms.

Supermatch online bets are taxed under the official La Banca/DNLQ regimes (taxation - according to special rules for the state/official games); the key is the legality of the channel and the transparency of accounting.

6) Implications for stakeholders

Players

Choose only Supermatch for online betting - this guarantees legality, data protection and correct payments. Any offshore sites are blocked and without consumer protection.

Media and sports

You cannot advertise/sponsor illegal online brands (including international ones); the regulator monitors air/streaming and sends warnings.

Business/Affiliates

Online operations outside the state perimeter are not possible; attempts to promote offshore brands - the risk of blocking and sanctions. Focus - partnerships in the official circuit and offline segment (where 0.75% of IA is valid).

7) FAQ (short)

Can I legally play online casinos or poker? No - remote casinos/poker are prohibited.

Are there any other legal online bookmakers other than Supermatch? No - Supermatch is officially declared as the only one.

What will happen for advertising an offshore site? Advertising is prohibited; regulator warns and can achieve interlocks.

0.75% tax applies online? This is a tax on bets in offline halls (casinos/salons), where the operator deducts 0.75% from each bet.

Uruguay maintains a tightly limited online market: remote games are prohibited, and the only legal online channel is Supermatch in the state perimeter La Banca/DNLQ. The regulator actively protects the information field (prohibition of advertising, blocking), and the offline segment lives on a new fiscal logic of 0.75% from each rate. For players and media, the recipe is simple: official channels - yes, everything else - no.