Chile's government files online betting bill amendments: full advertising ban, 3% tax on top of VAT and five-year licences

Updated October 28, 2026: Adds the Senate Economy Committee's first session on the amendments on October 27, the measures the Senate highlighted, and the advertising penalties presented by Undersecretary of Finance Sebastián Vallebona, as reported by Emol.

What the amendments propose

The document was signed by President Kast and ministers Jorge Quiroz, Daniel Mas, May Chomalí, Fernando Rabat and Claudio Alvarado, Diario Financiero reported. It renames the bill the "Law regulating online betting, child protection and prevention of gambling addiction".

Every account would be created with "safe play" settings by default, including deposit limits and per-session and daily connection limits. Bonuses and promotional offers aimed at attracting or retaining users would be prohibited. Operators would need reinforced authentication, which could include biometrics, and an exclusion register would cover self-excluded players, prisoners and people listed in the national register of child-support debtors. Athletes, coaches, club directors and shareholders could not bet on their own sport.

Unlicensed activity in the 12 months before an application, judged by criteria such as a .cl domain, sponsorships in Chile or contracts with Chilean payment providers, would lead to rejection. The exception is a transitional regime that requires a 3,000 UTM "enabling fee" and up-to-date digital VAT payments. Operators that previously paid digital VAT would declare the tax for the prior 36 months, after which related civil, criminal and administrative liabilities for tax non-compliance would be extinguished.

The advertising ban would reach advertisers, producers, distributors, intermediaries and individuals who personally advertise. Existing contracts with platforms holding a transitional licence could continue for up to one year, outside child-protection hours. Land-based casinos could offer online betting in their gaming halls through licensed platform operators.

Next steps

The Senate Economy Committee invited Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz to present the proposal at its session on Tuesday, October 27. The bill, first filed in March 2022, is in its second constitutional stage in the Senate. Earlier this month Chile's telecoms undersecretariat ordered 143 betting sites blocked.

Update: Senate committee begins study of the amendments

The Senate Economy Committee met on Tuesday, October 27, in Valparaíso to "begin the study of the amendments" to bill 14.838-03, which regulates online betting platforms, according to the TV Senado session page. In a post on X, the Senate said the government's amendments focus on protecting children and adolescents, preventing gambling addiction and regulating the industry. It listed these measures:

• a total ban on advertising by betting platforms;
• biometric verification for users;
• blocking of illegal sites and the payment methods linked to them;
• a 22% tax on the activity;
• a regulated register of users, and sanctions including fines and licence revocation.

The Senate said discussion will continue in the committee, where "one of the main debates" is the proposed tax rate.

Emol reported that Undersecretary of Finance Sebastián Vallebona presented the package. Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz had been invited. According to Emol's reading of the document:

• Licensed operators: advertising would be a "very serious" infraction that could cost the licence.
• People who design, produce or broadcast the ads: fines of 3 to 30 UTM.
• Unlicensed platforms: advertising would become a criminal offence, punishable by a short prison term (presidio menor, minimum to medium degree) and fines of 10 to 20 UTM (CLP 721,510 to 1,443,020). The penalty is higher if the ads target minors.
• Events involving minors: the ban on betting on such events would extend to activities centred on children's participation, such as youth sports divisions.