Chile’s Supreme Court declares online gambling unlawful without explicit government approval
Thursday 02 de October 2025 / 12:00
⏱ 1 min read
(Santiago).- Chile’s Supreme Court’s Third Constitutional Chamber, in a narrow 3–2 decision, upheld an appeal from the Concepción Lottery, ordering telecom providers such as Claro, Entel, GTD, Movistar, WOM, and VTR to promptly block access to unauthorized online gambling platforms within the country.
The Court confirmed that all online gambling is illegal in Chile unless expressly authorized by law. The only entities with legal concessions for games of chance are the Concepción Lottery, Polla Chilena de Beneficencia, racetracks, and authorized casinos.
Regarding online gambling, “only Lotería, Polla, and Teletrak have legal authorization for certain games played in this format,” the Supreme Court pointed out. “Therefore, no one else can develop online games of chance, and there are no authorized online gaming platforms in Chile beyond those expressly authorized by law,” it added.
Failure or refusal by the telecom companies to block sites like Betano, Coolbet, JugaBet, Rojabet, and Betsson was deemed illegal and arbitrary, violating the Lottery's constitutional property rights over its exclusive legal concession.
The ruling also established that internet providers are prohibited from transmitting or facilitating illegal activities, thereby mandating the immediate blocking of the websites reported by the Concepción Lottery.
Chile's Superintendency of Casinos reports that over 900 illegal websites allow online betting, generating an estimated US$150 million annually nationwide.
A bill is currently in the Senate that seeks to regulate these gambling websites. If passed, it would generate a competitive market, protect players, ensure transparency, and contribute to tax collection.
In a case filed in 2022 by Polla Chilena against the company Mundo Pacífico, requesting the blocking and non-promotion of online gambling sites, that appeal was also upheld, and the blocking of more than 20 online gambling sites was ordered.
Categoría:Legislation
Tags: Sin tags
País: Chile
Región: South America
Event
SiGMA North America 2026
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Friday 25 Sep 2026 / 12:00
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