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Chile watchdog finds 910 public officials placed casino bets despite legal prohibition Latin AmericaChile’s Comptroller General has reported that 910 public and municipal officials from 371 state entities made casino gambling transactions worth CLP 11.49 billion between January 2024 and June 2025, despite being legally barred from betting.March 26, 2026 -
Panama advances stricter gambling safeguards with third-reading approval of Bill 403 Latin AmericaPanama’s National Assembly has approved Bill 403 in third debate, moving the country closer to a stronger responsible gambling framework as lawmakers respond to the rapid expansion of digital betting and rising concern over gambling-related harm.March 26, 2026 -
Colombian authorities uncover clandestine dogfighting venue in La Calera, say it was tied to an international illegal betting circuit Latin AmericaIn a joint operation led by the Prosecutor General’s Office through GELMA and supported by the National Police’s Carabineros, investigators raided a rural property in La Calera (Cundinamarca), rescued multiple dogs and detained suspects, while tracing the event to cross-border networks linked to illegal wagering.March 23, 2026 -
Colombia introduces emergency 16% tax on online bets to fund flood response in eight departments Latin AmericaPresident Gustavo Petro’s government issued Decree 0240 as part of emergency fiscal measures after severe flooding in eight affected departments. The new charge applies to online games of chance and betting, adding a 16% national consumption tax to the regulated digital gambling market.March 20, 2026 -
Uruguay: Senator Felipe Carballo tables bill for a state-run online gambling platform with private operators under licence Latin AmericaThe proposal would create a State Online Gaming Platform under the Dirección Nacional de Loterías y Quinielas to offer and monitor online betting nationwide, while allowing private participation under a supervised licensing model and new control tools such as audits and a bettor registry.March 15, 2026 -
Formula 1 signs Betway as its first-ever Official Betting Operator, expanding official in-play products to Africa and other regions Europe Latin AmericaThe multi-year deal gives adult fans in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Canada and Mexico access to official pre-race and in-play betting markets powered by F1 data, including strategy-based options such as safety cars and pit stops.March 12, 2026 -
Argentina bill would bar child-support defaulters from casinos and state-authorised online gambling platforms Latin AmericaLawmakers filed a proposal to create a federal register of unpaid child-support obligations, triggering nationwide “ineligibility” that would block access to casinos, bingo halls, betting shops and authorised online gaming accounts.March 5, 2026 -
World Lottery Association publishes “roadmap” for Chile’s online betting regulation, urges strict youth protections and tough stance on previously illegal operators Latin AmericaIn a 19 February 2026 position paper, WLA says Chile’s rules should prioritize channelisation into licensed platforms, ban youth-appealing promotions like welcome bonuses, and avoid an “implicit amnesty” for operators that previously operated outside the law.February 27, 2026 -
Dominican Republic partners with FIBA to tighten AML controls across casinos, sports betting and lottery outlets Latin AmericaThe Ministry of Finance and Economy has signed an agreement with the Financial & International Business Association (FIBA) to roll out a sector-specific AML certification program, aiming to professionalise compliance and reduce the country’s exposure in international evaluations.February 26, 2026 -
Mexico moves to criminalise match-fixing and curb betting club conflicts of interest Latin AmericaMexico’s Congress has received a reform package that would make sports manipulation a federal crime and introduce strict barriers between bookmakers and professional clubs, including licence cancellation, heavy fines, and mandatory integrity monitoring.February 20, 2026
