Chile’s regulator lacks authority over online gambling as legal ambiguity persists

Recent findings reveal that the Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego (SCJ) in Chile has no legal competence to regulate or license online gambling platforms, leaving the sector effectively outside national oversight.

According to an official opinion by the Contraloría General de la República published on 14 November 2025, online-casino and sports-betting operations not explicitly authorised under Chile’s brick-and-mortar casino law are considered illegal. The SCJ’s oversight powers extend only to land-based casinos; online activities fall outside its jurisdiction.

Industry analysis indicates that no operational licence regime currently exists for online gambling in Chile, and draft legislation remains stalled in the Senate after passage in the Chamber of Deputies in December 2023.
This regulatory vacuum means offshore operators continue to accept Chilean players without local oversight, generating concerns around consumer protection, tax revenue loss and market integrity.

For gambling operators, affiliates and regulators, the situation presents both risk and opportunity: the gap in regulation creates legal uncertainty for market participants, but also signals potential for future licensing and market entry if legislation advances.