Chilean lawmakers ask CNTV to suspend online betting advertising on television

Chilean lawmakers Eduardo Cretton and Marco Antonio Sulantay have asked the National Television Council to extend restrictions on online betting advertising across all television hours, arguing that continued promotion is inconsistent with recent court-ordered blocking of unauthorised gambling domains.

Chilean deputies Eduardo Cretton and Marco Antonio Sulantay have formally asked the National Television Council (CNTV) to suspend television advertising by online betting companies throughout the day. The request, submitted on August 12, follows recent judicial measures requiring internet providers to block domains associated with unauthorised online gambling services.

The lawmakers argue that Chile’s regulatory response should be consistent across different channels. They said it makes little sense for courts to restrict access to unauthorised betting websites while the same businesses can continue gaining widespread exposure through television advertising. Their request calls on the CNTV to extend its existing approach beyond the hours specifically designated for the protection of minors.

Cretton and Sulantay referred to a previous CNTV case involving Chilevision. In 2024, the Council imposed a 20 UTM fine after the channel aired nine online betting advertisements during the protected viewing period for children and adolescents. The Santiago Court of Appeals later upheld the sanction, supporting the CNTV’s conclusion that promotion of online gambling during those hours could negatively affect minors.

The new request comes shortly after the Santiago Court of Appeals established a technical procedure for implementing a Supreme Court judgment against unauthorised online gambling. Under that process, domains validated by the Superintendency of Casinos of Gaming can be communicated through telecommunications authorities for DNS blocking by internet providers. The lawmakers argue that television advertising policy should now move in the same direction.

However, the deputies’ request does not itself create an immediate nationwide advertising ban. The CNTV has not yet announced that it has adopted the proposal, and under its current mandate it supervises television content after transmission rather than exercising prior censorship. Its enforcement powers include investigating broadcasts and imposing sanctions where content breaches applicable rules.

The issue is also being considered through legislation. A bill restricting advertising by online betting companies in sports remains in its second constitutional stage, while another proposal dealing with advertising relationships between professional football participants and online betting platforms remains under consideration in the Chamber of Deputies.

The latest request therefore adds political pressure for a broader television advertising response but does not yet change the rules applying to broadcasters. If the CNTV decides to extend its existing enforcement approach beyond protected hours, it could significantly reduce television exposure for unauthorised betting businesses while Chile continues to develop a more comprehensive legislative framework for online gambling.