Two Chilean deputies have called on the National Television Council (CNTV) to suspend all television advertising by online betting operators, arguing that continued promotion conflicts with efforts to block unauthorised betting websites.
UDI deputies Eduardo Cretton and Marco Antonio Sulantay submitted the request after the Santiago Court of Appeals established a process for implementing the Supreme Court’s ruling against unlicensed online betting platforms.
Deputies Seek Broader Betting Advertising Restrictions
The Supreme Court ruled in September 2025 that telecommunications companies must block unauthorised betting websites. Following the ruling, the Santiago Court of Appeals established a procedure under which the Superintendence of Gaming Casinos (SCJ) can identify and validate domains for blocking, while the Telecommunications Subsecretariat instructs internet service providers to implement the measures.
Importantly, the process can address new domains as they emerge rather than relying solely on a fixed list of unauthorised websites.
Cretton and Sulantay now want Chile to apply a similar approach to betting advertising. They have asked the CNTV to extend its restrictions so that online betting advertisements cannot appear on television at any time of day.
Lawmakers Question Continued Promotion
The deputies argued that allowing betting companies to continue advertising while authorities work to restrict unauthorised platforms sends a contradictory message.
“Allowing betting companies to continue advertising while the courts move to prohibit them would be an absolutely incoherent signal from the state, particularly because this is an activity operating outside the law,” the deputies said, according to Chilean news outlet BioBioChile.
They also called on other government institutions to align their actions with the Supreme Court’s decision and prevent betting companies from continuing to promote their services.
“There is no point in the courts ordering their prohibition while, at the same time, we continue allowing online betting companies to have broad exposure among Chileans through advertising,” Cretton and Sulantay added.
The lawmakers also raised concerns about the exposure of minors to gambling promotions and the potential impact of betting on people experiencing gambling-related problems.
CNTV Has Already Sanctioned Betting Advertising
The latest request builds on previous action by the CNTV against betting advertisements during protected viewing hours.
The regulator has sanctioned broadcasters for showing online betting advertisements during periods intended to protect minors. Courts have subsequently upheld the CNTV’s authority to impose those sanctions.
However, the deputies’ latest proposal would go further. Instead of restricting betting advertising only during certain hours, they are seeking a blanket television advertising ban regardless of broadcast time.
Chile Continues to Debate Online Betting Regulation
The proposal comes as Chile continues to address the unresolved legal status of online betting.
While the courts have moved to restrict access to unauthorised platforms, lawmakers are also working on legislation that would establish a dedicated regulatory framework for online gambling.
The Senate bill would introduce a licensing system for online betting operators and establish rules covering taxation, responsible gambling, supervision and enforcement.
The government has accelerated consideration of the legislation this year. However, the proposed framework has not yet become law.
As a result, Chile faces two parallel developments: authorities are strengthening measures against unauthorised betting platforms, while lawmakers continue working toward a regulated online gambling market. The deputies’ proposed advertising ban adds another layer to that debate, particularly around how gambling operators should be allowed to promote their services while the country determines the sector’s long-term regulatory framework.
