Chile: online gaming regulation remains unresolved

Although the regulatory body for casinos has expressed its intention to move forwards with legislation, there have been no new proposals.

Chile.- The issue of online gambling regulation remains unresolved in Chile, where there are thousands of gamblers registered in other countries.

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced land-based gaming establishments to close, many countries have ushered through regulations on online gambling to make up for losses.

But in Chile, Vivien Villagrán, the head of the regulatory body, the Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego, said a month ago that regulation was important but had been delayed by the pandemic.

Current legislation does not consider online gambling but does not prohibit it either, and players registered in other countries are multiplying.

In an interview with Focus Gaming News, Villagrán said she had been planning to develop a regulatory framework when the pandemic put it on hold.

She said: “Not having online gaming diminishes a channel of commerce that physical casinos could have in order face the current situation. We were analysing and working on online gaming regulation then this global situation came about.”

According to the former head of the regulator, Francisco Leiva, the lack of legislation for online gaming has impacted on the economy. He claims that the Chilean state could be bringing in “up to a billion dollars a year” in taxes from the activity.