Chile Lawmakers Propose Biometric Verification for Online Betting Platforms

Two Chilean lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require online betting platforms operating in the country to use biometric verification systems for user registration and access, as the debate over digital gambling regulation continues to intensify.

Chilean deputies Marco Antonio Sulantay and Ximena Naranjo have presented a bill that would require online betting platforms operating in Chile to introduce biometric verification systems for registering users and allowing access to their accounts.

The proposal is aimed primarily at preventing minors from entering online betting platforms. According to the lawmakers, age restrictions alone are not enough if operators are not required to use effective identification tools. They argue that biometric verification could provide a stronger control mechanism by confirming the identity of users before they are allowed to gamble.

The initiative comes at a sensitive moment for Chile’s online gambling debate. The country is still discussing a broader bill to regulate online betting platforms, while the Internal Revenue Service recently issued Resolution No. 69 of 2026, establishing a tax registration and VAT payment mechanism for foreign gambling and betting platforms that provide digital services to users in Chile.

That tax resolution has created new controversy. Critics have warned that requiring platforms to pay taxes could be interpreted by some operators as a form of de facto recognition, even though the tax authority has not granted gambling licences or legalised the activity. Against this background, Sulantay and Naranjo argue that the debate should not focus only on taxation, but also on player protection, underage access and gambling-related harm.

The broader online betting bill currently under discussion in the Senate already seeks to prohibit access by people under 18. However, supporters of the new biometric proposal say the existing draft does not clearly define the technical verification system that platforms must use in practice. Their bill is intended to close that gap by setting a specific legal requirement for biometric access controls.

For operators, the proposal could create additional compliance obligations if Chile moves toward a licensed online betting market. Platforms may need to invest in stronger identity verification tools, data protection procedures and secure onboarding systems. At the same time, the use of biometric data would likely raise questions around privacy, storage, cybersecurity and proportionality.

For Chile, the proposal reflects a broader shift in the regulatory conversation. Online gambling is no longer being discussed only as a fiscal or market-access issue, but also as a consumer protection and digital safety challenge. If the biometric bill advances, it could become an important part of Chile’s future framework for responsible and traceable online betting.