Global gambling market updates, October 28, 2026: Chile's Senate Economy Committee starts work on government online betting amendments; senators question 3% extra tax

Latin America

1. Chile: Senate Economy Committee begins study of online betting amendments; 22% total tax at centre of debate

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. The government would rename the measure the "bill to regulate online betting, protect children and prevent gambling addiction". 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.
• Unpaid digital VAT: operators could settle what they owe for the previous 36 months, and full payment would end liability for those arrears.

The tax would be 19% VAT on monthly stakes minus prizes plus an additional 3% tax, as described in our earlier report.

Senator Ricardo Celis wrote on X that tax collected under the government's proposal would be lower than on other addictive products such as alcohol and tobacco, "when the specific tax falls from 16% to 3%". At the session, as reported by Emol:

• Matías Walker: "The tax seems low to me, I am willing to discuss it." He also asked for platforms' beneficial owners to be identified.
• Carlos Kuschel: raised the fall in municipal contributions from casinos in Los Lagos.
• Diego Ibáñez: criticised the removal of the contribution to municipalities. He said biometric verification is now optional under the government's text ("article 18 says it may consider biometrics").
• Gastón Saavedra (committee chair): said he favours "a level playing field" with land-based casinos.

Saavedra wrote on X that "we rejected" a government amendment that "opens the door to betting goods valued in money", saying it ran counter to the fight against gambling addiction. According to Emol, Vallebona replied in the session that "the only thing that can be bet is money" and that the reference to other goods was meant to bring those practices under the bans and sanctions. He also said the details of biometric checks should be set by regulation so they can keep up with technology.

The industry group aPAL told Emol it welcomed a responsible gaming regulation and a fund for preventing and treating gambling addiction. It opposed the total advertising ban and the ban on bonuses, saying licensed operators must be able to compete with illegal sites to move players into the regulated market.

The Senate's public bill file for Boletín 14838-03 has not yet posted the executive's October 26 amendment text. Chile has also ordered 143 betting sites blocked. The amendment package was first covered in our October 27 market update.

Next: the next Economy Committee session on the bill, whether the 3% additional tax is changed, and when the Senate posts the executive amendment text.

What to watch

• Chile: further Senate Economy Committee sessions on bill 14.838-03 and possible votes on individual amendments, including the tax rate and the advertising ban.
• Brazil: As of October 28 morning Beijing time, MP 1.394 is still listed as "awaiting installation of the committee" on the National Congress page. The Supreme Federal Court holds a public hearing on the betting ban on November 3. Urgency rules start on November 9, and the vote deadline is November 23.
• Paraguay: a revised DINAJZAR bill text is expected from Senate committees within about 15 days of their October 26 session.
• Peru: MINCETUR's public consultation on remote gaming regulation amendments (Ministerial Resolution 382-2026-MINCETUR) runs for 15 calendar days from October 22.

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