Chile authorities propose sweeping online gambling reform
Chile’s government has submitted extensive amendments to its proposed online gambling legislation, introducing five-year licences, additional taxation and sweeping restrictions on advertising and promotional bonuses.
The 114-page proposal, submitted on October 26, would establish a regulated market for private operators under the supervision of national authorities.
Operators would face an annual licensing fee of 1,000 monthly tax units and a 3% gambling tax in addition to the existing 19% VAT.
The legislation would prohibit advertising by licensed and unlicensed gambling sites, while also banning sign up bonuses and promos intended to attract or retain customers.
Companies operating without authorisation during the previous 12 months would generally be excluded from obtaining licences unless they entered a transitional regularisation scheme.
The proposals face competing amendments in Chile’s Senate, including one seeking to prohibit private online gambling entirely and another favouring a monopoly for existing lottery operators.
Industry association Agrupación de iGaming Responsable has criticised the proposed advertising restrictions, warning that they could strengthen unlicensed competition.
The legislation remains under consideration by the Senate’s Economy Committee, with no confirmed implementation date.
