Chile's National Association of Professional Football will cancel contracts with online bookmakers

Chile's National Association of Professional Football (ANFP) will cancel all previous contracts with online bookmakers. This follows the publication this week of a ruling by the country's Supreme Court that 23 online gambling sites were declared illegal and ordered to be blocked. 

The Supreme Court ruling follows a lawsuit brought by state-owned operator Polla Chilena de Beneficencia, which accepts sports betting and organises draw and instant lotteries.

The ruling defines these sites as "illegal" because Polla Chilena is the only company that can engage in this type of activity.

Under the blocking are such well-known online bookmakers as Betsson, among others. Bet365, Betway, Betfair, Bwin, Sportingbet, Marathonbet and 1xbet. Meanwhile, ANFP had previously entered into a three-year agreement with Betsson, whose brand is assigned to the two top divisions of the Chilean football championship. The size of the contract is US$8 million. The other bookmakers are sponsors of Chile's football teams.

The Chilean Ministry of Justice has given ANFP 30 days to terminate all contracts.