Chile Advances Online Gambling Regulation With Senate Support

Chile has taken a major step toward formalising its digital betting market, with the Senate Finance Commission giving unanimous approval to the general framework of a bill designed to regulate online gambling platforms.

This legislative proposal, known as Bill No. 14838-0, will now proceed to a full vote in the Senate before returning for in-depth scrutiny by the Economy and Finance committees. The bill aims to establish a legal structure that supports fair competition, enhances consumer protection, and strengthens state oversight in the country’sfast-evolving online betting space.

Tax Structure and Enforcement Measures

Under the proposed legislation, all online betting operators—both local and international—will be subject to Chile’s standard 19% value-added tax (VAT). This aligns with current taxation applied to other digital services in the country, and no exemptions will be provided to foreign operators.

Heidi Berner, Chile’s Undersecretary of Finance, defended the taxation policy during a presentation to the Senate Finance Commission, which is chaired by Senator Ximena Rincón. She explained that the anticipated overall tax load, inclusive of VAT, would remain below 28% for operators, based on international industry benchmarks.

Berner firmly dismissed the idea of special tax exceptions, stating that “all digital services in Chile are currently subject to the same rate.” She further emphasized that the bill would allow the government to pursue enforcement actions against unlicensed platforms once a formal licensing system is operational.

Responsible Gambling and Player Safeguards

Beyond taxation, the bill incorporates a range of consumer protection measures. Among these are provisions for age restrictions, biometric identification, and payment-blocking systems aimed at preventing underage access to gambling sites.

Stakeholder engagement played a pivotal role in shaping the legislation. During the commission’s hearings, feedback was collected from key segments of the industry, including representatives from national lottery bodies, horseracing groups, casino operators, legal experts, and digital betting platforms such as Betsson, Betano, Coolbet, and EstelarBet.

Over recent months, regional officials have also received training in casino law enforcement procedures, highlighting the government’s parallel effort to combat illegal gambling.

Toward a Regulated Digital Betting Market

If passed, the bill would mark Chile’s first comprehensive regulatory framework for online gambling—bringing it in line with existing oversight applied to brick-and-mortar casinos and the horseracing industry.

Berner described the framework as a critical move toward “creating the legal foundation for prosecuting unlicensed operators,” adding that it is intended to provide clarity for both regulators and the private sector.

Lawmakers indicated that adjustments and amendments will be made during the next phase of the review in the Economy and Finance committees. The bill remains under urgent legislative status, indicating the government’s intent to expedite the regulation of this rapidly growing industry.

Source:

“Online gambling regulation progresses with unanimous Senate backing”, camara.cl. August, 2025